Why are we experiencing so much rain?

Question

We have had the highest rainfall this August since 1912. I always thought that precipitation took place when there was heat...when the sun drew up the moisture from the sea and then formed clouds that contained moisture which then went overland loosing the moisture as rain. If this is correct then where was the heat to draw up the moisture this year?

Answer 1

to much evaporation?

i dont know the school i go to dont teach much lol!

Answer 2

From records August is one of the rainiest months of the year the other being November. This is due mainly to the reason you give in that the sea takes some months to warm up and is at its warmest in August hence more evaporation, the sun doesn't have to be visible from the ground to cause warming. This has to be combined with a run of low pressure areas coming from the west to give us a bigger chance of rainfall. The only times it is dry in August is if high pressure areas dominate and push the lows away.  

Answer 3

Tropical Storm Fay!?

Answer 4

Weather can be location-specific. No one (myself included) would have a very precise answer for you without knowing where you are.

Yes, heat causes evaporation as you stated, but there are many other driving factors involved to cause excessive rainfall in your area, wherever that is.