July looks set to be Britain's wettest on record, despite scorching weather across much of Scotland.
July looks set to be Britain's wettest on record, despite scorching weather across much of Scotland.
The Met Office yesterday said the first half of the month was much wetter than average and the deluges over the weekend, leaving much of England under water, would be record-breaking - following June which was England's wettest ever.
Met Office spokesman Dave Britton said there was a good chance the record July rainfall of 145.1mm, recorded in 1988, would be surpassed. The month's average is 62mm. Mr Britton said: "In figures from July 1 to 19 this year, we have seen that the UK has had more than average for the whole month - while some areas have seen twice the average."
He said the dismal summer was down to Atlantic winds not pushing pressure systems north as normal. Mr Britton said: "A lot of it is to do with the jetstream, a ribbon of wind that moves west to east across the Atlantic, from the States to here.
"This year it has been that bit further south and that bit weaker. That's why some areas of northern Scotland have had relatively dry periods."
