Brits should forget about April showers, as research reveals that today – 30th March – is actually the wettest day of spring.
Researchers at GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk have looked at rainfall data collected over the last ten years to see which days are usually the wettest between March and June.
In the last ten years March the 30th has had more waterfall that any other day in spring, being the wettest day three times over the last decade with the total rainfall amounting to 32.62mm.
Over the last 30 years there were 106.5 days of rainfall per year on average (above 1mm of rainfall).
This equates to only 30% of the year, which may be surprising for some as the UK is known globally for its unpredictable weather and seemingly constant downpours.
Specialists at GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk have warned that we may see records for UK rainfall being broken in coming years as global warming results in increased temperatures, yet more rain.
As the weather gets warmer the air rises, pushing the jet streams north, allowing for large depressions to bring in strong winds and rain from across the Atlantic.
But spring rain allows plants to thrive, as it provides benefits that tab water simply can’t achieve due to the levels of chemicals such as chlorine and fluoride in treated water.
A spokesperson from GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk explained: “Rainfall in early spring is not surprising as the change in temperature results in heavy downpour during this period.
“By looking over data and identifying trends we can give a rough idea to Brits of when to expect the wettest day of the season.
“We are well equipped to deal with the rain, but some areas in the UK tend to see increasingly heavy downpour leading to floods. This is something to be weary of – particularly in coastal areas.
“Global warming has also played a massive role in this. As the temperature in the UK rises this leads to an increased amount of water vapour being held in the air when a water source is available, thus leading to increased rainfall.
“Rain is essential for the environment – plants benefit hugely from moist soil from rainwater without all the chemicals – this is one of the reasons for the wonderful flowers booming in later spring.
“Any gardener will tell you that rainfall in early spring is more than welcomed and our team couldn’t agree more!”