Wet and windy Spring

2:34pm Friday 29th February 2008

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TRAFFORD'S very own weather guru has predicted an extremely wet April with the chance of flooding in some parts of the country.

Amateur meteorologist Harry Kershaw told Messenger that following a weather pattern that occurs just three times every 200 years April showers would be on the way.

Upon observing Altantic and European weather maps Harry found the conditions for February 24 2008 to be almost the same as that of February 22 1998, which coincides with February 1818.

He said: "Sadly it seems there are more flooding to come, in line with the July and November floods in 2007 and in January 2008.

"April 1998 saw serious flooding in Aberdeenshire, Worcestershire and the Isle of Man."

By contrast the Met Office said the forecast for this spring indicates that rainfall is more likely to be either average or below rather than above average.

Harry has predicted that today (Friday) will be windy and wet with north west winds and sleet on the hills, adding that March in general will be mild, but wet.

March - dry mid-month:

1 - 10 Wet, cold night frosts;

11 - 13 Mild and wet

14 - 25 Fine but cool

26 - 31 Warmer with rain

April - in general cool, very wet month, wettest April since 1818, coldest April since 1989

1 - 11 Warm, very wet and windy with heavy cloud bursts, e.g. flooding in Midlands

12 - 20 Cooler, with sleet and snow on hills

21 - 30 Warmer but heavy showers and thunderstorms

May - in general big change, sunny, warm and dry

1 - 6 Cool, dry, some night frost

7 - 14 Warmer with summer temperatures

15 - 16 Very warm with rain and thunder

17 - 26 Fine, cooler

27 - 31 Cool and showery (rain and thunder in south coast areas of England, possible snow in Scotland).