Dry and wet

Unlike some parts of the country the summer has been relatively dry here.

Building on a dry winter and spring the moisture deficit has remained significant with many weaker springs and small streams not running properly for several weeks.
At the start of September the annual total was more than 250mm below average, which should be around 600mm at this stage.

Suddenly on 15th September there's been a rather freakish deluge with more than 40mm in a few hours during the morning. It's still ongoing as I write so will go higher!
Easily the wettest day of the year so far.
It has been very localised with an area of  heavy rain rotating almost directly over the moors since midnight.

With another wet spell expected in a couple of days it does feel like this month might be the change in the dry spell of below average months, which has persisted almost a year now.

September is one of the drier months here, with an average of 61mm.
It seems almost certain this will be easily passed shortly, however the second half of the month looks more settled again.