UK’s Rainiest Places During Autumn Revealed as Country Prepares for Potentially Wetter End to the Year
As the UK braces itself for a wetter end to the year, the Met Office has revealed the top 100 rainiest places during autumn. The data, gathered over a six-year period from 2020 to 2025, provides insight into which parts of the UK have the highest average rainfall between September and November.
According to the figures, Neath in Wales takes the top spot as the UK’s rainiest place during autumn, with an average of 616.6mm of rain. This is followed closely by Merthyr Tydfil, also in Wales, with an average of 568.4mm. Kendal, in the North West of England, takes third place with an average of 553.4mm.
The data also reveals that eight of the top 15 wettest locations during autumn are in Wales, including Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda, Bridgend and Swansea. Clacton-on-Sea, in the East of England, takes the title of the driest place in the study with an average of 199.6mm of rain, closely followed by Cambridge and Ipswich with 199.9mm and 200mm, respectively.
The Met Office has also warned that the developing El Niño in the Pacific could be the strongest in over a century, with potential impacts on global weather patterns. For the UK, this could mean increased rainfall and stormier weather around November. This comes after an exceptionally hot and dry summer, leaving much of England and all of Wales in drought.
In light of these forecasts, leak detection specialists ADI Leak Detection analyzed average September to November rainfall across 305 UK cities and large towns. “Going from such a dry summer into a potentially wet and stormy autumn is something homeowners should take seriously,” said Peter Jones, Director at ADI Leak Detection. “It does not mean every forecast downpour will cause a problem, but it is much better to find a loose roof tile or blocked drain now than during several hours of heavy rain.”
The data also highlights the importance of checking for any potential weaknesses in homes before the heavy rain arrives. Jones advises checking gutters and downpipes for any blockages and ensuring they are carrying water away from the property. He also recommends checking for any small gaps or damage around windows, doors, and visible roof areas.
The full list of the top 100 rainiest places during autumn can be found below, with Neath, Merthyr Tydfil, and Kendal taking the top three spots. The data also reveals that eight of the top 15 driest places during autumn are in the East of England, with Clacton-on-Sea, Cambridge, and Ipswich taking the top three spots.
The data was gathered using ERA5-Land climate reanalysis for UK cities and large towns, with each location’s average calculated using the six autumn periods from 2020 to 2025. Of the 360 locations originally analyzed, 104 shared a weather grid cell with at least one other place, resulting in 305 independent locations in the final ranking.
The full methodology, as well as additional insights from ADI Leak Detection, can be found in the original release. If using this data, a linked credit to ADI Leak Detection is appreciated.
