§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much precipitation fell in each month of 1985, 1990, 1991 and 1993 to the latest available date; what is the long-term average for each month; and what was the number of days recorded as having no precipitation in each of these months.
§ Mr. AitkenThis is a matter delegated to the Meteorological Office under its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.
Letter from J. C. R. Hunt to Mr. William Ross, dated 19 July 1993:
Information on rainfall for Belfast Airport is attached. Further information can be supplied if requested.
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The only place in Northern Ireland for which a complete set of data is readily available is Belfast (Aldergrove) Airport Month 1985 1990 1991 1992 1993 Monthly Rainfall in mm at Aldergrove January 58.8 104.3 88.3 57.3 98.2 February 30.3 132.0 46.4 61.9 28.4 March 58.8 38.8 74.4 97.2 52.3 April 58.2 50.6 81.7 92.4 103.3 May 87.3 47.5 7.5 32.5 130.9 June 55.8 117.6 75.9 43.2 76.4 July 90.3 50.3 72.9 67.4 —
Month 1985 1990 1991 1992 1993 August 128.4 91.4 29.1 149.9 September 131.5 37.3 54.1 71.9 — October 38.0 164.7 106.1 58.1 — November 73.8 73.4 109.4 89.7 — December 72.8 74.8 78.3 68.7 — Monthly Number of Days Without Rain at Aldergrove January 8 0 6 9 3 February 12 1 4 3 4 March 4 4 10 0 2 April 2 3 8 2 8 May 9 12 8 11 6 June 5 5 3 11 5 July 0 11 7 5 — August 1 1 8 2 — September 4 9 11 3 — October 14 3 4 8 — November 3 10 0 3 — December 2 6 9 8 — 357W
Long-term average monthly rainfall in mm at Aldergrove Month January 85.8 February 57.8 March 68.8 April 52.9 May 59.9 June 62.6 July 63.9 August 79.8 September 84.8
Month October 87.6 November 77.8 December 77.8 Note: The Average has been calculated over the period 1961 to 1990.