Rainfall observations please

[nemno]

I am watching river levels like a hawk, having been flooded in 2003. What I haven't found is a good website that gives actual rainfall amounts. I may be dense but the Met office site gives a lovely rainfall radar for the last six hours and it gives tantalising glimpses of an actual amount of rain in the 'extremes' but where is there a lovely list/table/graph of rainfall observations please?

[OhYouMerryLittleKitten]

I can find that info for you I'm sure, but not right now so marking place for tomorrow.

[nemno]

That's kind of you OYMLK, is there no public page then? I know some time ago when my son did a project on flooding in the Thames valley the Met office supplied him with rainfall data. I was hoping one of you weather experts on here knew where this data was on the web. The weather stations I'd love to know about last night/yesterday are the Upper Thames catchment ones ie Brize Norton, Little Rissington, Benson, please.

Oh and while I have your attention what do you think about rainfall in the Cotswold, South Oxon, Thame area over the next few days? You are a star for doing this for us MNers. Thank you.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

It's astonishingly difficult to find rainfall data. Met office no longer seem to publish them. You could ask the COL network if they can help. I might try and have another look later. Other than that its google private weather stations. I have one but not in your area.

I think the area you are talking about could see another 60mm over the next few days through to Wednesday.

[Nocomet]

Environment Agency river levels

You have to keep clicking, nearer and near your house (or in my case the stupid road that's built across the flood plain) until green dots appear, those are water level gauges.

That plus the weather forecast local and for North wales three days ago (and the tide table) tells you if Dr Foster can get to Gloucester (or I can get to Tesco).

The Seven is an absolute pain because it's so long. We have local surface flooding and streams over minor roads when the weather is awful. Then sodding Seven will close roads in bright sunshine and I've forgotten to check.

[JohnnyBarthes]

I love the EA river levels pages. The ones for the brook and the river nearest to me are two of only nine favourites I have on my Opera start page (two of the others are MN pages ). We don't even get floods at our house - I just like watching them.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

more info on obtaining rainfall stats seems that you have to go to the met office directly now for the official stats as they are primarily released for research.

They have turned so much of the met office data into a commercial enterprise that a lot of valuable information has become almost inaccessible.

[JohnnyBarthes]

Oooh, Noco's link has a superfluous

Here it is again: EA River and Sea Levels

[nemno]

Thank you everyone. While I am sort of glad it wasn't me being dense and unable to find the data it is odd that everything else bar actual rain amounts are available.

I am an avid river levels follower from that site too! When things look like they are going tits up I have even been known to plot them :) I need more than 2 days for it to be useful, I wanted to add actual rainfall amounts. I am getting better over the years at gauging when I should start moving furniture upstairs. But it never gets less stressful, I wish I could move.

[NoComet]

Thanks Johnny
Sorry, iPhone pasted it in the wrong place and I buggered up sorting it out.

And yes we have bright sun and the flood gauge, at high tide is touching flooding possible.

[JohnnyBarthes]

I don't think the Met Office are a government organisation any more - I'm fairly certian they're a trading fund. The Environment Agency are still a government body I believe.


I imagine this has some effect on the data they're happy to share for free.

[JohnnyBarthes]

Oh, looks like I might be talking out of my arse. From a EA job advertisement:

If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed

[JohnnyBarthes]

otoh this Foundation Degree Traineeship post looks quite good for a youngster. £7.5k allowance p/a plus tuition fees covered.