Met Office Says Rainfall Is ‘Likely to Be Below Average’; Perth Umbrella Owners Refuse to Believe It and Carry Two
High pressure is expected to stay nearby into the middle of November. Perth people say they have heard this before.
An umbrella, which Perth people carry the way other people carry hope. Photo: W.carter, “Les Parapluies de Viborg”, via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
The Met Office’s long-range forecast suggests that high pressure will stay close to the UK into the middle of the month, with rainfall likely to be below average and some cold, frosty and foggy starts.
A dry spell in November is not something Perth is used to, and the city has reacted with suspicion.
“Below average? In November? In Perth?” said a Bridgend woman, holding two umbrellas. “I’ve lived here 70 years. I’ve seen ‘below average’ before. It means it rains on a Tuesday instead of every day. I’m taking both.”
A Scone man said he would believe the forecast “when I see the bottom of the water butt”. A Tulloch golfer said he would be “out every day this week” but had still packed full waterproofs, a towel, spare socks “and a second towel for the first towel”.
Experts say that a settled spell can bring beautiful, still mornings, with mist on the Tay and frost on the Inches. Perth people agree that this sounds lovely, and say they will enjoy it from indoors, by the window, with the umbrella next to the door just in case.
The Perthetic will report back. We will be carrying an umbrella while we do.
The real story: Long range forecast (Met Office)
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Below average in Perth is still above average everywhere else. Two brollies minimum.
— Bill A., Kinnoull, 2 November 2026 -
I’m a fisherman’s wife. ‘Below average rainfall’ gets said in this house the way other people say ‘bad news’.
— Heather N., Tulloch, 2 November 2026
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