Drought in SW Devon

[Len]

Only 13.2 mm of rain here since 15th June.

Would expect on average about 80 mm during this period.

My July total is just 1.7 mm. The previous driest July total of 6.2 mm in 2022 could be beaten.

The grass on Plymouth Hoe has long since turned brown.

Len

Wembury

[Graham Easterling]

1.5mm here Len, though it's been wet up at Camborne, they've had 2mm! Lands End and Cape Cornwall caught an overhead thunderstorm early in the month,  lttle rain reached the ground. My driest July 1999 with 11.5mm

Also, signs of significanr rain in the forecast seem to be fading, maybe in a week, maybe not. At least the temperatures are more pleasant now, even the nights are cooler. But with the sea temperature so high, despite a moderate northerly breeze straight off the Atlantic, it's still currently 22C at St. Mary's windswept airport on Scilly.

I notice SW water haven't updated the reservoir levels since 12th. 

Graham

Penzance

[Graham Easterling]

I notice SW water haven't updated the reservoir levels since 12th. 

More up to date figures are available elsewhere, e.g. https://www.swlakestrust.org.uk/current-reservoir-levels

Graham

Penzance

[Freddie]

Just a trace so far this month here in south Shropshire - and I only experienced that because I had to let the puppy out at 4:30am on the morning of the 2nd.  For measurable rainfall you have to go back to the morning of 28th June.  My 30-day running total is at 1.6 mm right now, so that's all we've had since 24th June.  The 90-day running total is at a healthy 127.2 mm because May wasn't far below average and June received 131% of normal.

[Nick Gardner]

Everything has shrivelled up Len.

No rain since the 16th June, that's 40 consecutively rainless days.

I think my record is 45 days, set in late winter quite a few years ago now.

My driest July was 2022 with 0.4 mm. before that was July 2016 with 6.6 mm.

Nick

Otter Valley, Devon.

[Julian Mayes]

These conditions are found across about nearly half of the UK.   Just in case anyone is not a user of this site, the best source of UK climatological data is the peerless Roostweather site run by Dan Harris (Met Office).   

https://www.roostweather.com/ukobs/customrain_map.php

Select the desired start-date/time (09h 1st July) and press custom period in the lower left box.  Most places in the south seem to have recorded about 0.2mm or so - presumably dew.  It'll be interesting to see how this is interpreted when the monthly rainfall map is being discussed at the end of the month.   

On another matter, with some sites near me having an average max temp of 29.5C or thereabouts (source; Roostweather) then I reckon we might see a few COL sites with a monthly mean max of 30C.  I didn't ever anticipate seeing that!    

Julian   

Surrey  

[Graham Easterling]

It's certainly been exceptional!

I think, as far as Devon & Cornwall is concerned, apart from the lack of rain, that temperature records were absolutely shattered in May & June, and it's been very sunny, there is an additional factor - the wind. This has been a major factor in the wildfires which have affected the Lands End & Lizard peninsulas recently.

I believe I'm right in saying that Cornwall is the windiest county in England, certainly west Cornwall is a very windy spot, and there's frequently been a stiff E wind, or like today a dry very warm northerly.  

Graham

Penzance

[Keith (Southend)]

I'm currently just above my 2006 record July of an average maximum of 25.7° (currently July 2026 is 26.0°C), here at Southend-on-Sea. Data since 1960. Still no rain recorded this month, tomorrow is probably the last chance looking at the forecast.

Keith (Southend)

[Freddie]

Had another trace of rain this afternoon, so still no measurable rain here.  Touch or go whether we will see anything measurable tonight.

Windy here this afternoon too - touching F5 at times, which just blew the dust around.  30cm temperature has been around the 20 mark since the 7th, and my mean max is running at 26.8 currently.

[Graham Easterling]

2.1mm last night!

Graham

Penzance

[Nick Gardner]

You were spoilt rotten Graham. What a drenching.

0.2 mm here. I didn't even see it nor was there any evidence of this event but the rain gauge swore that something had fallen.

Nick

Otter Valley, Devon

[Len]

Flew in from Finland a couple of weeks ago. Had a window seat and all I could see as we flew over Sweden, Denmark and then East Anglia was brown, brown, and brown fields.

So drought conditions have been quite widespread even in N. Europe.

Len

Wembury

[Len]

over Essex

[Graham Easterling]

I think it's the driest the ground's been in west Cornwall since 1989

Photo flying above Sennen late July. Note the cliff top mist where the sea breeze funnels up.

In those days controlled burns were common early spring, to help prevent mid summer wildfires. (My relations used to own farms near Carbis Bay & Zennor). It also helped prevent woody plants from smothering the wild flowers. Now they've got out of control and have to be cleared manually at considerable cost, especially plants like hydrangeas. All down to governments being lead by the NT and Natural England, who all know best.

On the plus side farms on the Lands End peninsula got together with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust for a 4 year badger vaccination trial which reduced the proportion of badgers testing positive for bTB exposure from 16% to 0%. Yes, we still have badgers (healthy ones even) they regularly visit my garden in Penzance. They even used to go in the pub at Lamorna for bread & butter! 

Graham

Penzance

[Graham Easterling]

To be clear photo was taken late July 1989