Always Raining Somewhere: The Art of Weather Data Visualization

In a world where climate change remains a pressing concern, British data artist Rebecca Kaye, known as Ploterre, has found a compelling way to translate meteorological statistics into visual narratives. Her recent project, “Always Raining Somewhere,” draws on extensive data from the UK Met Office, reflecting on how our weather varies dramatically across different regions and timeframes.

Kaye’s artistic exploration began with a simple observation during her cycling trips around Edinburgh. “It was really apparent when cycling from my home in Edinburgh that it could be dry if you headed west, but wet if you headed east, and vice versa,” she recalls. This curiosity led her to compile precipitation records from 366 locations across the British Isles. The dataset spans from 1934 to the present and primarily focuses on the wettest months, from 1 October to 31 January. In total, her visualisation comprises 122 rows representing days and 90 columns across the years, effectively encapsulating nearly a century of weather patterns.

The visual itself is striking. Faint diagonal lines signify light rainfall, while denser lines depict more intense rain. The outcome mirrors a view from a foggy, rain-soaked window, evoking an emotional response to the often-overlooked, relentless nature of British rain. Yet, Kaye’s work is also grounded in data integrity; although the piece gives the impression that it is “always raining somewhere,” there are noticeable gaps indicating the occasional dry day.

What stands out is the emerging trend evident in Kaye’s piece: as one gazes toward the bottom right of the visualization, it becomes clear that rainfall patterns have intensified in recent years. “You can see the pattern getting darker at the bottom right,” she notes. “It looks to be getting wetter later on in more recent years.” Such observations echo broader climatic shifts documented by the Met Office, whose HadUKP dataset offers comprehensive precipitation data and has been instrumental in similar research.

Kaye’s intent is to humanise data, making it relatable to the everyday experiences of people who live in a frequently rainy nation. “It makes the numbers less dry – pun intended,” she remarks, highlighting her belief in the power of art to provoke thought and emotional engagement with otherwise stark statistics.

Kaye’s work fits into a larger narrative about climate awareness and the innovative use of data in art. The Met Office has made extensive strides in making precipitation records accessible, with archives extending back to 1766. This wealth of information not only serves artists like Kaye but also empowers citizens, as seen in projects that have encouraged community involvement in weather data collection. For instance, a recent initiative involved citizen scientists rescuing over 3.34 million historical monthly rainfall observations, an effort that significantly enriches our understanding of historical weather patterns and trends.

As climate change continues to reshape our environment, the narratives woven by artists like Rebecca Kaye become increasingly vital. By transforming dry statistics into visual poetry, Kaye not only captures the essence of a quintessentially British experience but also contributes to a broader discourse on climate resilience and awareness. Indeed, Kaye’s work reminds us that while it may almost always be raining somewhere, there is also beauty and revelation to be found in our shared meteorological narrative.

Reference Map:

  • Paragraph 1 – [[1]](https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/may/08/weatherwatch-british-data-artist-shows-its-always-raining-somewhere-almost), [[2]](https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/may/08/weatherwatch-british-data-artist-shows-its-always-raining-somewhere-almost)
  • Paragraph 2 – [[1]](https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/may/08/weatherwatch-british-data-artist-shows-its-always-raining-somewhere-almost)
  • Paragraph 3 – [[1]](https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/may/08/weatherwatch-british-data-artist-shows-its-always-raining-somewhere-almost), [[5]](https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/about/archives)
  • Paragraph 4 – [[1]](https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/may/08/weatherwatch-british-data-artist-shows-its-always-raining-somewhere-almost), [[3]](https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/hadobs/hadukp/)
  • Paragraph 5 – [[1]](https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/may/08/weatherwatch-british-data-artist-shows-its-always-raining-somewhere-almost), [[7]](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359458212_Millions_of_historical_monthly_rainfall_observations_taken_in_the_UK_and_Ireland_rescued_by_citizen_scientists)

Source: Noah Wire Services