03/04/2008

Summer Expected To Be 'Hot And Wet'

This summer looks set to be warmer than average - however, the bad news is that there looks set to plenty of rain as well.

The Met Office has said that the temperature in the summer months looks set to be above average, but rainfall is expected to be above average to average.

Long-range forecasters said that this summer is expected to be a "typical British summer" and said that torrential rainfall on the same scale as last summer "remains a very low probability".

Dr Brian Golding, the Met Office's Head of Forecasting, said: "We think it's likely to be a case of a few fine days and then there's a band of rain, perhaps some thunderstorms and then it warms up again."

However, the Met Office has warned against using the long-range forecasts to plan holidays or outdoor events.

Rob Varley, Government Services Director, said: "Our long-range forecasts are proving useful to a range of people, such as emergency planners and the water industry, in order to help them plan ahead.

"They are not forecasts which can be used to plan a summer holiday or inform an outdoor event."

(KMcA/JM)

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