March review: Wettest March in 40 years

March of 2023 was the wettest in 40 years across England, after the driest February in 30 years.

An average of 119.2 mm of rain fell across England in March, 91% above the monthly norm. Wales had 206.5 mm of rain and Northern Ireland 151.2 mm, making it one of their top ten wettest March's on record too.

Parts of Ireland also saw their wettest March since 1963, with 239.2 mm at Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry. In contrast, Scotland's monthly rainfall was just 3% above normal with 130.1 mm.

While March started on a dry and cold note, a westerly air flow driving in a conveyor belt of low pressure systems quickly gained control. Despite this, we still saw no named storms for the month.

This March was the sixth wettest in records dating back to 1836, but the average March rainfall record across England still stands at 147.2mm, which was set in 1947.

Rainfall in March has helped to replenish water levels, however this comes after an extremely dry February, with just 15.3mm of rain.

Mean temperatures were generally close to average, with extremes of -16C at Altnaharra, Scotland on the 9th, comparative to 17.8C at Santon Downham, Suffolk to end the month on the 30th.