Driest September on record for the UK

Early indications from Met Office figures show that this is going to be the driest September across the UK since records began in 1910.

Not only is it on course to be an exceptionally dry month, it is also likely to end as one of the top five warmest Septembers, with temperatures significantly above average.

Using provisional figures from 1-28 September, the UK as a whole received 19.4mm of rain, which is just 20 per cent of the amount of rain that would normally be expected for the month. 

The previous driest September on record was in 1959, when 23.8mm of rain was recorded across the whole of the UK.

Northern Ireland is also likely to have its driest September on record, with just 7 per cent of the average rainfall. However, it looks like England, Wales and Scotland will fall short of breaking any records, having their second driest September.

Blocking high pressure

The cause of the record-breaking dryness is down to the weather pattern over the Atlantic, which has seen an area of high pressure sitting close to or over the UK.

This has stopped rain-bearing low pressure systems from arriving, leading to a prolonged spell of warmth, sunshine and a lack of rain.

A blocking high pressure formed due to the jet stream sitting north of the UK, steering any unsettled weather towards Iceland and northern Scandinavia.

As well as the lack of rain, the mean UK temperature (an average of day and night temperatures) has been 13.9C, which is 1.2C above average, although notably below the record of 15.2C, set in 2006.

Despite the prolonged spell of warmth and lack of rain, sunshine amounts have been close to normal, at 94 per cent of the average.

Drought concerns?

There will no doubt be thoughts and concerns that this record-breaking dryness may put the UK at risk from drought. However, that is not the case.

This September follows on from a very wet August and what has generally been a wet year – mainly due to the very wet start to 2014 and the wettest winter on record.

Trevor Bishop, Environment Agency deputy director of water resources, said: “Following the wettest January to August on record, water resources in England are around normal for the time of year.”

He added: “We also look ahead by modelling how rivers and groundwater may respond to different future rainfall patterns. The results show a broadly positive picture and even if rainfall is below average this autumn the country will not go into drought.”

This week will see autumnal weather finally arriving across the UK, as the jet stream slides southwards, bringing wind, rain and cooler air to most places by next weekend.