Cornish Village Marks 50 Consecutive Days of Rain in Soggy Winter Spell
The village of Cardinham, located near Bodmin in Cornwall, has endured an extraordinary stretch of wet weather, with rain falling every single day for fifty consecutive days. This persistent deluge has resulted in a total of 441.4mm of rainfall recorded since the beginning of the year, according to official data from the Met Office.
Record-Breaking Rainfall and Historical Context
Remarkably, the village has already received more precipitation during February than it typically would over the entire month. The current rainy streak began on 30 December, creating a notably damp start to the new year. However, Cardinham has not yet surpassed its own historical record set in the year 2000, when residents experienced seventy-two consecutive days without a dry interval.
The United Kingdom as a whole has faced relentlessly unsettled conditions throughout this winter season. The situation was exacerbated just this week by the arrival of Storm Pedro, which brought additional ice and rainfall across numerous regions of the country.
Meteorological Explanation for the Persistent Downpours
Grahame Madge, a spokesperson for the Met Office, provided a detailed explanation for the unusually high rainfall levels, particularly in the south-west of England. He attributed the phenomenon to a series of low-pressure systems moving towards the UK from the Atlantic.
"There has been a blocking area of high pressure situated over Scandinavia for much of the winter," Mr. Madge stated. "Because that air is exceptionally cold and dense, it has been very difficult to dislodge. Consequently, these low-pressure storms arriving from the Atlantic have had nowhere to go. They collide with this immovable block, which forces them to deposit significantly more rainfall across various parts of the UK, as they cannot progress any further."
Forecast and Broader Weather Impacts Across the UK
Looking ahead, Mr. Madge indicated that Cardinham is still forecast to experience rain in the coming days. However, there is a possibility that the severe weather may begin to ease as conditions gradually become more settled.
"We are still facing an unsettled picture," he added. "The forecast has moderated slightly, meaning we can expect periods of more settled conditions interspersed between the pulses of rain."
The widespread rain deluge has led to several notable records across the nation:
- Northern Ireland experienced its wettest January on record, with rainfall exceeding the long-term average by seventy percent.
- South-west England and eastern Scotland also recorded some of their wettest January periods in history.
Flood Warnings and Public Health Alerts in Place
In response to the saturated conditions, the Environment Agency has issued sixty-seven active flood warnings for England, indicating that flooding is expected. Additionally, there are one hundred and sixty-nine flood alerts in effect, signalling that flooding is possible in those areas.
Concurrently, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has implemented a cold health alert. This alert remains in force until Friday evening for multiple regions, including the East Midlands, East of England, North East, North West, West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the South West.
Detailed Met Office Weather Forecast
Thursday: Predominantly cloudy for most areas, with early rain or showers expected in the North and East. Some clear spells may develop elsewhere before strengthening winds usher in heavy rain across Northern Ireland and western Scotland later in the day. Temperatures will turn chilly where skies remain clear, but conditions are expected to stay frost-free.
Friday: A chilly start to the day. Outbreaks of rain will move eastwards through the morning. The afternoon should bring brighter conditions, though heavy and blustery showers are forecast for many regions. Winds will freshen and temperatures will turn milder from the West.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday: Conditions will become much milder but often cloudy, with periods of rain or drizzle. The heaviest precipitation is anticipated in western areas, with brighter spells likely at times. Sunday is expected to remain unsettled with further rain. Monday may start briefly brighter before additional rain spreads in later.
