An entire month’s rain could fall today

8:00am Friday 5th September 2008

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AN entire month’s rain could fall today as Worcestershire and surrounding areas are hit by storms and squally winds.

A low pressure system moving in from the Atlantic is responsible with weather expert Paul Damari predicting up to 40 mm of rain falling today and possible flash flooding.

The downpours are bad news for farmers’ wheat harvest and any remaining stalwarts holding out for a sunny end to what has been another washout British summer.

Mr Damari said: “We’ll have between 20 mm (0.7 ins)and 40 mm (1.5 ins) – almost September’s entire rainfall on Friday.

“And we’ve already had about 20 mm earlier this week so put it together.”

The weekend is set to be a damp squib with the wet weather continuing into Saturday, September 6, easing slightly on Sunday, and temperatures about 17C (62F).

Mr Damari explained a moisture-laden low pressure system had developed across the Atlantic Ocean earlier in the week and was due to hit south-west England and Wales today.

He said: “When we get lows from the south-west we get the brunt of the rain as it slows over Wales and the West Midlands.”

Mr Damari predicted squally winds and consistently heavy rainfall between about 4am and 4pm, with intermittent downpours as the system moves across Worcestershire.

“There’s a bit of room in the river but we’re warning people to clean out their drains, watch out for flash-flooding and avoid fords,” he added.

Making no promises about an Indian Summer, Mr Damari said there was a chance of an autumn warm spell – which he called a “Little St Luke’s Summer“ – around the saints day which falls on Saturday, October 18.

For Worcestershire’s arable farmers the bad weather means more headaches for the harvest which officially runs from mid-July until the end of August.

Jake Freestone, farm manager at Overbury Farms, near Evesham, said the damp summer had affected the crops harvest and wheat in particular.

He said: “We had ten dry days in August which is unheard of. It’s a real shame because we were looking good for a bumper crop this year.

“We’ve got a large area of wheat which still needs harvesting and the quality has virtually gone.

“What could have been used to make biscuits is being downgraded for use as animal feed.”

He explained the poor weather could now hold up planting, including oilseed rape which starts in mid-September.