The Wettest Year on Record...Nearly

There was great anticipation this morning as the Met Office were due to release the official data regarding last years rainfall records. The smart money was on the fact that 2012 would be the wettest year on record.

Then the information was released, this is taken from the BBC website,

"The total rainfall for the UK during 2012 was 1,330.7mm (52.4in), just 6.6mm short of the record set in 2000."

Just 6.6mm short of the record...it seems that the turn of the millennium held on to that dubious title. I can't say I remember that year being that wet!?

Although 2012 was the wettest on record for England it was only Wales' 3rd wettest year since records began in 1920 and not being that special for Scotland being only 17th wettest.

Chart showing monthly rainfall in 2012 against the average rainfall for each month

This graph also published by the BBC shows the dry beginning to the year that prompted hosepipe bans across the country following the previous dry year. Then came April, June and July and the heavens opened. So much so that some people might have considered building an Ark and changing their name to Noah.

Apparently now the ground is full. There is no air left in the soil and the saturated earth simply can't take anymore water. This is unprecedented; prompting another graphic on the BBC.

Graphic showing the soil moisture deficit (SMD) across the UK in March and December 2012

This shows that now the whole country is full of water.

Now all we need is some snow...it is winter after all.

Read the whole story at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20898729

 

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