To anyone living in England and Wales, the news that the countries saw their wettest winters in hundreds of years may not come a particular surprise. Many parts of the UK saw persistent rain throughout the season, causing flooding in certain areas. And this will cause blocking of drains with foul smell so for that professionals who can Unblocking drains for health and hygiene.
It is during times like these that effective drainage systems really come into their own. While good quality guttering and rainwater systems cannot stop the water from falling, they can help to ensure it is channelled away as efficiently as possible.
Met Office statistics
According to new figures from the Met Office, England and Wales had their wettest winters since 1766. Between December 1st 2013 and February 24th, a total of 435mm of rain were recorded under the England and Wales Precipitation series. This was the most rain observed since the series began running 248 years ago. The previous record was set in 1915, when 423mm of rain fell.
Land and property in the north of the UK were spared some of the worst of the weather. For example, northern Scotland received only a third more rainfall than its long-term average. This compared with almost two and a half times the long-term average in south-east and central southern England.
Perhaps surprisingly, southern England saw 12 per cent more sunshine than average over the winter, while Scotland only received 78 per cent of its average sunshine hours.
West and south-west winds
The Met Office noted that the predominance of west and south-west winds, which bring in mild air and unsettled conditions from the Atlantic, was the main reason for the wet weather seen this winter.
The direction of the winds helped to keep the UK average mean temperature for the winter at 5.2°C. This made it the warmest since 2007, when an average of 5.6°C was recorded. Meanwhile, the record for the warmest winter was set in 1989, when the average mean temperature for the country was 5.8°C.
Preparing for the future
In the wake of the damage caused by this winter’s unusually high levels of rainfall, many people have been looking for reassurance about the future. Even the experts struggle to predict how much rain will fall over coming months and years. However, there are ways in which people can help to protect themselves and their property.
For example, there is much debate at present concerning flood defence measures and how best they can be enhanced. In addition, people can invest in the best possible water drainage systems for their homes and businesses.
By being proactive and taking action like this, people stand a better chance of minimising the harm caused by flooding. They can also increase their peace of mind.
To investigate their options, many individuals now head online. The internet is a great source of information when it comes to the various products and services available that can help to protect land and buildings from heavy rainfall. Cyberspace is also quick and convenient to use, which is ideal for busy consumers and business owners who need to get the facts in a hurry.
