Persistent wet weather has affected parts of the UK, with some areas experiencing rain every day for 40 days since the start of the year. The Met Office confirmed that places in Devon, Cornwall and Worcestershire have seen daily rainfall, matching the biblical duration of Noah's flood and the folklore of St Swithin's Day.
The relentless rain has caused flooding in homes and businesses, particularly in south-west England and the Midlands. Farmers have been hit hard, with James Winslade, a beef and arable farmer on the Somerset Levels, confining his 500 cattle to a barn on what is now an island. 'It's just a matter of trying to hang on,' he said, calling for more investment in infrastructure to cope with global warming.
Provisional Met Office statistics show Northern Ireland had its wettest January in 149 years, with Co Down recording its wettest January on record. The Mountains of Mourne saw 790mm of rain so far this year. Wales has reached 39% of its February average and 94% of its winter average, with Nantyglo in the south Wales valleys recording 394mm.
Farmers across the UK are struggling, with Kevin Gilbert, north-east chair of NFU Scotland, describing the conditions as the worst in 35 years. 'Winter crops – barley, oilseed rape and wheat – can only survive up to 10 days underwater. They've been underwater for a month, so they'll be dead,' he said. Horticulturists are also affected, with Hillier Nurseries in Hampshire struggling to plant and sell trees.
The heavy rain has led to sewage spills on beaches and inland, with 181 alerts on the Surfers Against Sewage live map. Chloe Flood, senior campaigns officer, criticised water companies for failing to invest in infrastructure. Roads have also been damaged, with the M62 closing for emergency repairs between Manchester and Warrington after weather-related damage.
