Precipitation in the British Isles: an analysis of area-average dataupdated to 1995

This paper updates precipitation series for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland for 1990 to 1995. A new precipitation seriesfor the whole of Ireland for 1840 to 1995 is developed. Recent changes in seasonal precipitation totals in all three regions are discussed. In all regions, recent precipitation in winter (DJF) has increasedand summer (JJA) precipitation has decreased. This trend is most evident in Scotland, where the November to April total for 1986 to 1995 is 30 per cent more than corresponding values in 1951 to 1980. For England and Wales the 1995 summer was the driest on record, with 7 mm less rainfall than in 1976, the previous driest summer. Over Scotland and Ireland the 1995 summer was also dry but not as exceptional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]