§ Mr. Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average rainfall in the South West for four representative points at this time of the year in a 24-hour period; and what was the actual rainfall for Friday 4th November at the same four points.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe average November daily rainfall over the last 35 years for four Meteorological Office stations in South-West England and the 357W actual rainfall amount measured in the 24 hours beginning at 0900 on 4th November, 1966, are as follows:
Daily Average 24-hour rainfall from 0900 on 4.11.66 Bristol (Filton) 0.10 in. 2.24 in. Hurn 0.12 in. 1.10 in. St. Mawgan 0.15 in. 0.63 in. Plymouth (Mount Batten) 0.15 in. 0.75 in. Monthly rainfall averaged out over 30 days does not give a realistic indication of the amount of rain which may actually fall on any one day, as a large proportion of the month's rainfall may well take place on only a few days. In Southwest England falls of 1.25 to 1.5 inches in a day in November have occurred on average once a year over the last 35 years. The amounts recorded above are therefore not unusual, except at Bristol (Filton), which had the highest rainfall recorded in a 24-hour period in the area in November.