SODDEN Huddersfield is set to get more rain over the next few days.
And that could well mean we end up with the wettest and coldest April for 20 years.
More than an inch of rain fell in heavy, prolonged showers on Wednesday and there was more rain throughout much of yesterday.
And while it is good news for Yorkshire Water, to ease any fears of drought problems, and for gardeners, it is not good for those seeking a warm spring.
Salendine Nook weather expert Paul Stevens recorded 27mm of rain on Wednesday – about one third of what would normally be expected over the whole month.
He said: “The rainfall we have had so far this month is considerably well ahead of what we had last April, which was much warmer and drier than normal.
“We recorded 57mm in the whole, of April 2011 and so far this month, the rainfall in Huddersfield has reached 78mm.
“With more than an inch of rain on Wednesday and more falling yesterday it has been very gloomy and that doesn’t show many signs of changing.
“We have a band of low pressure over us, which has moved down from Greenland and the north west and is centred over Yorkshire, which is likely to remain with us for a good few days.
“It means we could be reaching the end of the month with the coolest and wettest April since the mid 80s.
“The temperature yesterday never got above 8°C which is five degrees lower than it should be for this time of year.
“The good news is that the rain comes after a very dry March which means that the reservoir levels are well up.
“And across the rest of the east of England, which is where the drought restrictions have been brought in, there has also been above average rainfall which can only be good news.”
Matt Thompson, of Yorkshire Water, said: “It is a very welcome respite after months of dry weather and has helped replenish our stocks.
“Most of our reservoirs are in the hills above Huddersfield and they have seen levels rise 2.3% over the past two weeks to stand now at 92.3%.
“It is not an end to our problems but it is very welcome.”
