General (county) update - 3rd May 2011

• Just a weather report really....
• In March 2011, we had only 19% of our long-term average rainfall for the month.
• In April 2011, we had only 6%.
• The SMD (soil moisture deficit) which ranges between 0mm (happens each winter) and 125mm (the maximum it can ever go 'round here - but it rarely reaches that level) is running at about 80mm now. It should be around 27mm. (NB. SMD is the amount of rainfall needed before the ground is saturated).
• The ground is cracked and hard. The garden grass is like a moorland - brown and crusty  -  and its only just May!
• I hear we are expecting maybe 20mm rain over the weekend (maximum). BOY do we need it!