Not only has January been exceptionally wet in the far west Cornwall, it follows a very wet December. Both months 200mm, even at my site at only 19m amsl.

In fact, for January, looking at this list http://www.met.reading.ac.uk/~brugge/CURR.html there's nowhere to beat the 228mm recorded in Penzance. Even wetter than any figure I've seen for Bodmin Moor, that's a first for a winter month. The exceptional rainfall in the far west of Cornwall was a subject on BBC Spotlight this evening.

This is my wettest 2 month period since November / December 2002, which had an incredible (for a very low level location in southern UK) 543.9mm. There was a lot of flooding at that time.

No risk of a water shortage this summer. The peat bogs which supply the water to the streams supplying Drift Dam (which Penzance relies on), resemble an ideal habitat for wading birds. Anybody thinking of taking the cycle path from Sennen to Land's End would be better off with a kayak. (OK - I'm starting to exagarate - but only slightly).

The sunshine figures for the month are near normal, though the 2nd half has been dull. At least, when the suns out, beaches aren't muddy http://www.cornwallcam.co.uk/ , good news if you want a walk.

Graham
Penzance