31/08/2007

2007 'Wettest UK Summer'

This summer looks to have been the wettest since UK rainfall records began in 1914, according to the latest figures from the Met Office.

Provisional rainfall figures show that the UK as a whole had 358.5mm of rain, which just beat the previous record of 358.4mm in 1956. However, the Met Office said that more data had still to be collected, which could mean that 2007 is pushed into second place.

Keith Groves, Head of Forecasting, said: "These figures confirm what most people have already been thinking - this summer has been very wet and very disappointing for most."

The Met Office said that the summer's wet weather has been largely caused by the position of the jet stream, a ribbon of very strong winds, which brings weather systems across the UK. The jet stream was further south and stronger for much of this summer, bringing depressions across many parts of the country.

However, the Met Office also said that the UK had average temperatures of 14.1C throughout the summer.

Several areas of England and Wales suffered flooding in June and July, due to the severe weather.

(KMcA/SP)

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