Britain endured its wettest day on record earlier this month – with enough rainfall to fill Loch Ness. Scientists warn that extreme rain may become more common because of global warming.
Saturday October 3rd downpours sees UK’s wettest day on record since records began in 1891 according to weather researchers.
The downpour followed in the wake of Storm Alex and saw an average of 31.7mm of rain across the entire UK. The previous record for the wettest day was 29 August 1986. The UK have already passed their average October rainfall in the first couple of weeks of this month. These heavy downpours across 2020 show the signal of climate change?
While the previous record came during the very wet summer of 1986, the third wettest day across the UK was on 15 February this year with 27.2mm. Storm Ciara and Dennis, pushed February to the top of the records as the wettest ever in the UK until the new October record.
There’s a general expectation that under our warming climate, we would expect to see increases in some types of extreme rainfall and we’re expecting to have wetter winters overall, we could expect increases in these types of extremes. More than 20 counties across the UK have already had 100% or more than their average October rainfall and many others are not far behind. This again suggests that the UK is likely to witness increased rainfall and more record-breaking events.
Britain was battered by bad weather in 2012 with an unprecedented amount of rain falling across the UK causing widespread floods and devastation. England and Wales experienced 10 separate flooding events between April and December. Over 8,000 homes and businesses were flooded. In late June, Honister in Cumbria saw 200mm (eight inches) of rainfall in one day. More recently winter 2013/14 and winter 2015/16 have been the two wettest on record. .
December 2015 was the wettest December, and indeed any calendar month, in the UK series since 1910.
2012 was the wettest ever year for England.
What makes 2012 all the more interesting is that the start of the year was drier than normal. The significance of 2012 as a wet year is highlighted when we consider the dry start with widespread hosepipe bans and many areas experiencing drought conditions. 2012 has been the wettest April in the UK for over 100 years, with some areas seeing three times their usual average. The figures up to April 29 show the amount of rain which has fallen is almost double the long term average for April of 69.6mm, in records dating back to 1910.
The top five wettest years in the UK
- 2000 – 1337.3 mm
- 2012 – 1330.7 mm
- 1954 – 1309.1 mm
- 2008 – 1295.0 mm
- 2002 – 1283.7 mm
Insurance companies
There is correlation between extreme rainfall and insurance claims due to rain water damage and flooding. The guttering and drainage systems on many properties across the country are simply not maintained routinely enough to prevent damage, damp, and decay and with this trend likely to continue its more important than ever to have a maintenance plan in place.
The experts, including gutter cleaners, roofers and home insurance companies all agree that Gutters, downpipes, roof valleys, ako drains and floor drains are checked and cleaned out at least once per year.
It is essential to keep your gutters debris free to allow correct drainage of rainwater more than ever before and prevent further damage to your foundations due to blocked gutters and with significantly more rain fall due to climate change conditions.
