The annual number of rain days in the UK has fluctuated over the past three decades. In 2021, there were 148.7 days in which 1 mm or more of rain fell. The year with the greatest number of rain days was 2000, when 178.5 days had at least 1 mm of rain. England is on average the driest country in the United Kingdom.
Does it really rain all the time in the UK?
And there’s no need to worry – contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t rain every day here in the UK. Let’s take a look at how British weather varies from season to season and region to region.
Why does it rains so much in UK?
This is because the mountains of the northern and western UK force the prevailing westerly winds to rise, which cools the air and consequently enhances the formation of cloud and rain in these locations (this is known as orographic enhancement).
Is the UK the rainiest country?
The UK may be wet, but it’s not even close to the wettest country on earth. In fact, despite what many people around the world would like to believe, the UK is not even the wettest country in Europe.
How much does it rain in the UK?
Average annual precipitation in the UK typically ranges from approximately 800 mm to 1,400 mm. The UK climate is heavily influenced by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Stream/North Atlantic Drift which brings warm water into high northern latitudes.
What is the rainiest city in UK?
That achievement goes to the small village of Capel Curig, which lies right in the heart of Snowdonia in Wales. The station there records an average annual rainfall of 2,612.18 mm, making it the official wettest place in the UK.
Which country gets most rain UK?
Scotland
UK: regional annual rainfall 2011-2021
Since 2011, rainfall in Scotland has typically been the highest out of the countries that comprise the United Kingdom.
What is the rainiest country in the world?
Brunei Darussalam is the top country by rainfall index in the world. As of 2019, rainfall index in Brunei Darussalam was 3,564 mm. The top 5 countries also includes Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Solomon Islands, and Indonesia.
Which country gets most rain?
Colombia
List
| Rank | Country | Average precipitation (mm in depth per year) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colombia | 3,240 |
| 2 | São Tomé and Príncipe | 3,200 |
| 3 | Papua New Guinea | 3,142 |
| 4 | Solomon Islands | 3,028 |
Which is the driest city in the UK?
Topping the list is the seaside town of Shoeburyness, on the Greater Thames Estuary. This town records an annual average of 527mm of rain — the lowest value amongst the Met Office’s climate stations — making it the driest place in the UK.
Is the UK the wettest place on earth?
Where is the rainiest place on Earth? Surprisingly, it’s not Wales. According to Guinness World Records, the place with the highest average annual rainfall is the village of Mawsynram in northeastern India, which receives nearly 12,000mm of rain per year (Cardiff, in comparison, receives just 1,150mm).
Which is driest county in UK?
The climate of East Anglia is generally dry and mild. The region is the driest in the United Kingdom with many areas receiving less than 600mm of rainfall a year.
What is Europe’s rainiest city?
Securing the number one spot as the rainiest city in Europe is Bergen in Norway! Topping the data table for being both the city with the highest average rain days per month (12.7) as well as the highest average daily rainfall (8.8mm), Bergen is the outright rainiest city in Europe.
Is the UK getting drier or wetter?
But in future, we’re likely to see this drying effect as well. “UK Climate Projections have shown for some time that we can expect hotter, drier summers and warmer and wetter winters. Our study shows we are likely to see hotter and drier autumns on average, too.”
Which month rains the most UK?
July and August are the warmest months, but they are also the wettest. The sunniest parts of the Britain are along the south coast of England. Rain is fairly well distributed throughout the year, with late winter/spring (February to March) the driest period and autumn/winter (October to January) the wettest.
What is the sunniest city in the UK?
Chichester has been named the sunniest place in the UK – thanks to its record-high levels of sunshine this winter. Met Office data found the city received more than 230 hours of sunlight – or nearly ten days – across the coldest season, which is more than anywhere else in the country.
Which UK city has the best weather?
1. Eastbourne, East Sussex: Brighton’s bustling cousin. Eastbourne can lay claim to being the sunniest place in the UK with 1,892 hours of sunshine annually, according to Met Office (opens in new tab) data.
How many days does it rain in UK?
Annual precipitation averages for the entire UK are 133 days of rain or snow, totalling 885 millimetres (33.7 inches). You can jump to a separate table for: Southern England, Northern England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
What’s the wettest part of England?
Taking the lead as the rainiest UK region is the South West of England, with five cities (Plymouth, Cheltenham, Bournemouth, Bristol and Exeter) deemed the wettest areas of the UK and in the top 20. In second place with four cities making up the top 20 is the South East of England.
Which county is England’s wettest?
Cumbria, in particular, is the wettest county in England, with an average rainfall of 1,830 millimetres (71.85 inches) per year.
What is the driest country on Earth?
The Atacama Desert is the driest place in the world. Located in Arica, Chile, its annual rainfall is only 0.03 inches. The landscape is so arid, that NASA’s astrobiologists travel to the Atacama Desert hoping it will lead them to clues about life on other planets.