AS ANYONE caught in recent heavy downpours (and the resulting flooding on borough roads) will be only too aware, September has been very wet – and thundery.
There has been so much rainfall, say meteorologists at the University of Reading (UoR), that this month is officially the wettest September in more than 120 years.
Dr Stephen Burt from UoR, said: “Since the university began recording rainfall back in 1901, the borough’s wettest September to date was 1974, when 145.7 mm was recorded.”
This September’s rainfall total reached 154mm, toppling the previous record.
To put that in context, the average for September recorded between 1991 and 2020 was just 50mm.
Only two years have been wetter by this point in the year; in 1928 and 1951.
And already in nine months, a total of 657mm of rain has fallen, more than the annual average, with the past 12 months seeing 17 months worth of rainfall.
Another September record has been the number of days in the month that thunder has been heard in the area.
In September 1976 six days with thunder were recorded, beaten this year by seven.
“Since thunder-day records began in 1908, only one month has ever had more, when 11 were recorded during May 1969,” said Dr Burt.
For information, visit: www.reading.ac.uk/meteorology
