Why do we always miss so much rain?

[chaffcutter]

I know basically it's a result of being just that bit too far away from the Welsh mountains etc but it's so frustrating to watch the sattelite pics of rain clouds just NOT QUITE being far enough east for us to get some ? GRRR

 

[Grassman]

I know basically it's a result of being just that bit too far away from the Welsh mountains etc but it's so frustrating to watch the sattelite pics of rain clouds just NOT QUITE being far enough east for us to get some ? GRRR

Same here. The rain seems to run out when it gets to the pennines. We had a bit a couple of days ago. Thunderstorms are hit and miss so still hopefully of a soaking.

 

[Jerry]

We are in a big rain shadow here and very dry compared to most of Devin.

My valley and that next door is known as the frying pan of Devon.

Rain shadow and light soils don’t make good bed fellows in years like last year.

 

[JP1]

I know basically it's a result of being just that bit too far away from the Welsh mountains etc but it's so frustrating to watch the sattelite pics of rain clouds just NOT QUITE being far enough east for us to get some ? GRRR

Your Son posts screenshots of your digital weather station . You had 9mm the other day. Try being this far East .....

 

[Clive]

Your Son posts screenshots of your digital weather station . You had 9mm the other day. Try being this far East .....

9.7m on the furthest west farm but just 4.3mm 20 odd miles further east - shows how localized it can be

grateful for any however this week !

 

[DrWazzock]

Same here. About 2 mm here this week. Nothing of significance,
Hardly worth bothering with the forecast. Very inaccurate for us this week. Rushed the spraying but have had ample opportunity since which weren't forecast. Wind speed forecast in particular has been way off. I know th east wind gets stronger in the evening here, while the west wind calms down. Opposite in the morning. The forecast doesn't even reflect this much. The forecast is practically useless to me and only causes confusion and the wrong decisions.

Better just to look to the horizon and have an educated guess.

 

[Muddyboots]

Only had 8mm in April here, we seem to miss most showers in the East of Suffolk

 

[snarling bee]

Just tipped out the rain gauge for the first time for weeks. 1 drip.
FA in the forecast.

 

[Y Fan Wen]

Only had 8mm in April here, we seem to miss most showers in the East of Suffolk

18mm yesterday, 15mm today. April total will be about 100mm if the forecast for the w/e holds.
Weather wise we've had a very trouble free lambing. Lots of unusual dry weather just when we needed it.

 

[JP1]

18mm yesterday, 15mm today. April total will be about 100mm if the forecast for the w/e holds.
Weather wise we've had a very trouble free lambing. Lots of unusual dry weather just when we needed it.

My friends up North or on the West can never believe how dry we get it. I can never believe how much drier again it can get near Guy Smith's place

 

[Gadget]

I know basically it's a result of being just that bit too far away from the Welsh mountains etc but it's so frustrating to watch the sattelite pics of rain clouds just NOT QUITE being far enough east for us to get some ? GRRR

As you know, we are further down the A38 from you and to the east of Birmingham. On a number of occasions, when on our higher ground, I have seen a big rain cloud depositing water over Birmingham only to have it split in two and go either side of us. My theory is that the heat rising from the city does it.
G

 

[wurzell1976]

18mm yesterday, 15mm today. April total will be about 100mm if the forecast for the w/e holds.
Weather wise we've had a very trouble free lambing. Lots of unusual dry weather just when we needed it.

Is it for sale ?

 

[dowcow]

Here on the North-West coast, it's the other way around. Last summer's 'drought' was pretty much the best summer we ever had. There was a couple of weeks which were getting a bit dry. Much of our farming is working to get excess moisture out of the soil. It is fairly rare to go two weeks without a decent shower.

 

[DRC]

Wet and cold with it tonight. Fire lit in the pub in total contrast to last Friday, when everyone was sitting outside. Had enough rain for now.

 

[wurzell1976]

I know basically it's a result of being just that bit too far away from the Welsh mountains etc but it's so frustrating to watch the sattelite pics of rain clouds just NOT QUITE being far enough east for us to get some ? GRRR

I have friends that farm in the Welsh mountains,careful what you wish for.However i am in the process of moving to an area with 40 inch rainfall and run off like you"ve never seen.Please don"t ask why at the moment.

 

[Farmerdunk]

7mm in roughly 6 weeks here. Hertfordshire

 

[Boohoo]

Could do with a dry week or two..

 

[The Agrarian]

Could do with a dry week or two..

Aye. Grass ready...

 

[Boohoo]

Aye. Grass ready...

Too early for me. I'm trying to get rid of water and it's got a bit messy.

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

7mm in roughly 6 weeks here. Hertfordshire

Ditto but then we're not far apart.

Rainfall distribution has been a professional fascination of mine for nearly 30 years. There are many reasons for rain shadow effects, not just the presence of high ground. It is now possible to purchase incredibly local weather forecasts if you wish but we are a long way from them taking full account of local climactic influences.

Rainfall is rarely uniform anyway. I've seen storms where the rainfall has varied by >70% over a few miles distance for no obvious reason.