It always rains at 2pm

~ beetleypete

I know that I write a lot about weather, and especially about rain. Perhaps if you also spent three hours a day walking in open countryside, you might know why I do. I usually walk Ollie the dog around 2pm. With the recent ‘clocks back’ for Autumn, this means that the real time that I am doing this, is closer to 1pm. The weather knows though, and is not fooled by our human clock-changing foibles. It knows what time I go out, and it waits, ready to pounce.

It was cold and sunny here this morning. So bright and sunny, that I had to close the curtains slightly at one stage, as I almost couldn’t see, so startling was the sunshine. I went about my usual routine, and soon realised that it would be time to take Ollie out. I got dressed for mud and cold, and left the house in brilliant weather, at exactly 1.55pm. It is a very short walk to the meadow and park, so I was letting Ollie off his lead by 1.59pm. I noticed another dog-walker nearby, ready to exit the park. She lives nearby, and is well-known to me. She jokingly said that she had started to come out earlier, as my arrival normally signalled rain. As she spoke, it began to rain lightly, and we both laughed at the coincidence. Soon after, that rain was becoming more insistent, and she left the field, calling something to me as she did so.

I carried on, the only person visible in the large space. I eventually put up the hood on my short anorak, as the rain began to get serious. The noise inside the hood went from pattering, to hammering, and the feeling was unpleasantly claustrophobic, like the view of a tank driver, through an obscured slit. As I continued the trudge, I noticed that Ollie was becoming white, as pea-sized hailstones settled on his fur. These small projectiles were falling in tens of thousands by now, and the noise was becoming an insistent rattling on my coat and hood, like shots from an air-rifle. Moments later, and my trousers were sodden, my coat soaking up a lot of water too, but thankfully letting none through to the clothing underneath. As I looked around, all points of the compass showed blue skies and unbroken sunshine; everywhere but above my head.

Fifteen minutes later, and the clouds had passed. Sun streamed across the meadow, but it was still raining. It was rain from a long way up, rain that was falling a considerable distance, losing its power and momentum on the long descent. But it was still wet. Even this stopped eventually, and I was able to lower my hood. We were joined by other dog walkers, those who had waited out the worst, before venturing out. As a group, we decided to head across to Hoe Rough, to give the four dogs a good place to romp and tussle. This is a short distance, and takes only a few minutes to get there. No sooner had we arrived, than the heavens opened again. This time, the rain was not only steady, it was also cold. This rain was from the weather freezer, chilled to the point where it felt like needles on the skin. And this time, it didn’t stop.

By 3.30pm, we had all had enough, and we decided to head home. I got back with Ollie at 3.50, curtailing his usual walk by almost an hour. Cold, wet, and pretty fed up, I towelled him dry, and put on the house lights. I reflected that it was too frequent, to be a coincidence. Furthermore, others were also beginning to notice. It did always rain at 2pm, and if it was already raining, it rained harder, colder, and heavier. So, that makes it official, at least to me.

18 thoughts on “It always rains at 2pm”

  1. Today, it rained in Abu Dhabi (UAE), where the average rainfall this time of year is zero, so we here in Las Vegas (not to be outdone) allowed rain clouds to give us a “bucketing” as well. In fact, our local weather forecasters, who tire of the daily sunshine routine, are also excitedly predicting rain tomorrow (Nov. 22). Needless to say, the bamboo plants are happy to gorge themselves on something other than recycled city water, and our cactus, who normally bask in the sun out on the patio, will stock up on water for the long haul. I wasn’t home during the day today, but my better half put the house plants outside so that they could shower (but not shave). I hope it was a sunny day in England. Because weather role reversal is a good thing now and then.

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  2. Ha ha! Perhaps this theory of you bringing the rain should be put to test – you should go for a nice holiday in the Sahara maybe 🙂 We also had a little bit of snow/hail yesterday, in the middle of a perfectly sunny day, of course just when I decided to go out!

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    1. Don’t believe that for a second Ro. I have seen the reporters on TV news under umbrellas! Anyway, perhaps you haven’t noticed it at 2pm, the hour of precipitation! (See below, it didn’t actually rain here this afternoon. It knew I had written about it, and tried to make me look strange…)

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  4. I think your theory is true, even here – we had a lovely sunny morning here today, but the rain arrived at around 2 p.m. and despite a short break or two is still at it. Dark at 3:30 p.m. Oh how I hate winter 😦

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  5. Here on the outskirts of the Mojave Desert (beyond which lies the Great Basin), we sometimes get a downpour, and perhaps a light shower or two, between July 15th and September 15th (the so-called “Monsoon Season”), and, depending on the year, maybe a bit of rain in December or January. I think we average about 4-5 inches a year (10-12 cm a year). I usually forget where I’ve put the umbrella when that rare moment of precipitation does occur. I think I’ve seen snow accumulate (briefly) on the ground twice in 18 years of living in the valley. Of course, in the wintertime, one can always drive up to Mt. Charleston to frolic in the snow (there is a ski run up there, too). It’s only about an hour away. Obviously, walking the dog in Las Vegas is a pleasant experience–except on that one or two days of the year when the temperature soars to 117 F (47 C).

    Pete, as usual, your post made me smile. You have a true knack for writing! Also, I have an 18-year-old umbrella, hardly used, I can sell you for peanuts–if I can find it….

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    1. Thanks David.
      I do have three umbrellas. One city style, one collapsible type, and a larger golf umbrella. However, they are not practical for dog walking, when you have leads, a wading cane, and rougher ground to contend with, often under bushes and trees.
      It is already raining today, it hasn’t stopped since yesterday afternoon, so I just expect it to get harder and heavier by 2pm…
      Regards from England, Pete.

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  6. I had a spell of ‘always’ rain a few years ago; it literally always rained on a Friday morning when I had a Plein Air Painting Class to teach. The class was for 6 weeks and every class was held in my living room. Very frustrating. I guess the best thing was that by 8:30 a.m. every Friday morning for 6 weeks we knew it was raining, so never got caught in the rain while painting outside. Here’s to better weather for you and Ollie!

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    1. I suppose I should try to break the pattern of walks with Ollie Gretchen. It is the time when most other dogs are out though, so he would miss his ‘pals’. Your story makes me even more convinced though!
      Regards from England, Pete.

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  7. I used to love the pitter-patter of raindrops on an early morning but now there is that inner fear that I can’t shake off every time the rainy season sets in. Our country has only two seasons, the dry and the rainy months. I am now afraid of storms and typhoons.

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    1. You have had a terrible time out there Arlene, and our thoughts are with you. It is never off the news here.
      The people of the UK donated over £30 million pounds, and the government almost £50 million, so I hope that the ordinary people in the disaster area get some benefit from that.
      Best wishes to you from England, and glad that you are safe. Pete.

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