This summer it’s felt like I’ve been living inside of a washing machine – it seems to have been raining every day accompanied by blustery winds. Ireland has always had its fair share of rainy days (that’s why there are forty shades of green) but the last three summers have been a washout – literally. The year seems to have blurred into a single season. Met Eireann have just confirmed my suspicions. To quote, “Rainfall totals were above normal everywhere for the third successive summer, with around twice the average rainfall at some stations.” For some parts of the country, including where I live, it has been the wettest summer since records began – rainfall was 199% higher than the season average between 1960 and 1990. It rained more than 1mm for over 50 days during the three months of June, July and August.I thought climate change was meant to bring us warmer, sunnier weather. Instead, I’m starting to forget what the sun looks like (especially since we took a staycation this year, wandering around in the pouring rain out West). Can we please go back to how it was a few years ago? I know we used to moan about the fact that it rained all the time back then, but we were wrong. It only rained most of the time. I’ll take most to all every time.
Actually Rob your rain is exactly what you in Ireland should expect with climate change...some parts of the world will get hotter and drier (my own for example) while others will get wetter (not necessarily colder though). The lower two thirds of the UK is expected to be among the optimum places to live in future if the worst predictions for the globe as a whole come true. "They" say your climate will become more of a cross between temperate and tropical (which equals rain).
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the REAL world, Rob.
ReplyDeleteSomething is rotting in the state of Denmark right now (i.e. my washing) :(
The summer in Devon has been very wet or has seemed like it with some days more like November than July/August. We always get a lot of rain but not quite as much as the Emerald Isle.
ReplyDeleteThe lower two thirds of the UK is us ! Thanks Bernadette. :o)
Today in south east London it is sunny and very hot - must be well in the 80s. So changeable - I was wearing winter boots yesterday!
ReplyDeleteHmmm. Thanks, for the comments, I think. It's going to get worse and its better elsewhere. Great! Just a little bit of sun. For five minutes, just once a week. I'll settle for once a fortnight. Is that too much to ask?
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere about climate change that we would be experiencing "too much of the same". If someone lives in a part of the world where it tends to rain a bit, it might be a good idea to put pontoons on the house. If, like me, you live in a desert, start stockpiling sunscreen and water. Here in Phoenix, Arizona, we've experienced the hottest July on record. I do love my swimming pool!
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