|
UK summer wettest on record
31/08/2007 12:07 - (SA)
London - Britain had its wettest summer since rainfall records began in 1914, according to provisional figures released by the Meteorological Office on Friday.
According to the figures up and until August 28, Britain as a whole had 358.5mm of rain since the beginning of the summer, narrowly beating out the previous record of 358.4mm, set in 1956.
"These figures confirm what most people have already been thinking - this summer has been very wet and very disappointing for most," said Keith Groves, head of forecasting at the Met Office.
The Met Office explained that the high level of rains was due largely to "the position of the jet stream, a ribbon of very strong winds which brings weather systems across the UK".
"For much of this summer, the jet stream was further south and stronger than in a typical summer - bringing depressions across many parts of the country."
Much of the heavy rainfall this summer occurred in 24 hours between June 24 and 25 in northern England, with similar levels falling on July 20 in western and central England, causing floods on both occasions.
The average temperature during the summer was 14.1 degrees Celsius.
- AFP
|
News
