Storm Desmond breaks UK rainfall record
The Met Office National Climate Information Centre have this morning confirmed that the rainfall over the weekend in Cumbria was record breaking.
The records are assessed against all digitised data that the Met Office holds, which extends back to the 19th Century.
The new records are:
New rainfall record for any 24-hour period
This previous record for any 24-hour period on record in the UK, was 316.4mm in the 24-hours 0000 – 2359 GMT on 19 November 2009 at Seathwaite.
New rainfall record for 48 hours 09-09 GMT
The previous 09-09 GMT record covering two consecutive rain-days – i.e. 48 hours – was 395.6mm on 18 and 19 November 2009 at Seathwaite, Cumbria.
The previous 09-09 GMT record covering two consecutive rain-days – i.e. 48 hours – was 395.6mm on 18 and 19 November 2009 at Seathwaite, Cumbria.
The highest standard rain-day total 09-09 GMT record has not been broken
The 24-hour totals 09GMT 5 to 09GMT 6 December did not beat this record. The 09-09 GMT record is important because from a historical context much of the data is daily data recorded over the standard 09-09GMT period.
The record remains 279 mm at Martinstown, Dorset set on 18th July 1955.
Thirlmere came very close however, and exceeded the highest 09-09 GMT total from November 2009 which was 253mm at Seathwaite on 19 November 2009.