UK to face one of the soggiest summers on record — with 50 days of rain forecast in just three months
BRITAIN is set to face one of the soggiest summers on record — with at least 50 days of rain forecast in just three months.
The Met Office has briefed the Government and transport chiefs to expect wet conditions over the holiday season, with damp weather 50 per cent more likely than average.
It could be the soggiest summer since 1912 — when showers struck on 55 days.
Last year’s washout saw rain on 40 days, but even more downpours are now expected from the start of June until the end of August.
This means major events including the Trooping of the Colour, Royal Ascot, Wimbledon and the Formula 1 British Grand Prix could all be blighted by bleak weather.
There needs to be 2.5mm or more of rain within 24 hours to count as a rainy day.
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Forecasters are blaming the wet outlook on low pressure systems.
The Met Office long-range forecast said: “The chances of a wetter-than-average period are higher than a drier-than-average one.
“Rainfall at this time of year has a greater risk of localised heavy downpours and thunderstorms.”
Britons got a taste of the dreary weather over the Bank Holiday weekend when sunny spells were interrupted by showers for much of the UK.
The rain turned heavy — with hail in places — and flooding hit Wynyard, County Durham.
The RAC estimated that more than 20million leisure car journeys were made over the weekend — the most since pre-pandemic levels.
But motorists faced gridlocks across the country as many Bank Holiday sunseekers cut their trips short over the poor weather.
Delays also hit the ferry routes from Dover, flights from Birmingham Airport and the trains — on the busy West Coast Main Line and in and out of Portsmouth.
Showers eased last night and there is set to be bright start today, but it will turn overcast.
Hail and thunder could also return later in the week, but it is set to be dry by Friday.