There were of rain in August 1917 and of the total fell on The month was overcast and windless, which much reduced evaporation. Divided into two ten-day and an eleven-day period, there were of rain; in the before on 31 July, fell. From on 31 July to on 4 August, there was another of rain. August 1917 had three dry days and with less than of rain. Three days were sunless and one had six minutes of sunshine; from 1 to 27 August there were of sunshine, an average of per day. Hussey wrote that the wet weather in August 1917 was exceptional, Haig had been justified in expecting little rain, swiftly dried by sunshine and breezes.