UK set for driest September on record

With just 19.4mm of rain up to September 28 and temperatures warmer than average, September 2014 is likely to be the driest since records began. However, the Met Office has said that October is likely to be as wet and cold as usual.

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Early Met Office figures have suggested this is going to be the driest September since 1910, with ‘exceptionally low’ rainfall and the month featuring among the top five warmest on record.

The UK has received 19.4 mm of rain – just 20% of the normal amount of rainfall – breaking the former driest record of 23.8 mm in 1959. Northern Ireland has been the driest region, with just 6.5 mm of rain, while Scotland was the wettest with 33.3mm of rain. Nevertheless, this is set to be the second driest September on record for Scotland.

This is also the joint fourth warmest September on record, with mean temperatures of nearly 14C – 1.2C above the long-term average, thanks to an area of high pressure that has dominated the country over the month.

Forecaster Peter Sloss from the BBC Weather Centre explained that October should see wetter and colder weather.

He said, “The first few days will see mainly dry, warm weather, but a front will bring a spell of wet and windy weather to Scotland and Northern Ireland on Friday, crossing England and Wales overnight.

“Temperatures will fall away and we will be back to more normal mid-autumn weather.”

September’s dryness comes after a year of intense rainfall, starting with last winter floods and ending with the 8^th wettest August on record, and months of record-breaking temperatures above average, such as July, June and May – in the UK and worldwide.

Photo: Tim Sackton via Flickr

Further reading:

British winters becoming more extreme, scientists warn

UN warns frequency of extreme weather will grow with climate change

Wetter winters may pollute UK rivers, scientists warn

July eighth consecutive month of above average temperatures

Climate change will make summer floods more common – Met Office