June heads for record as wettest since 1860

So far this month, 150mm of rain has fallen across England and Wales. The average is 65mm.

MeteoGroup, the Press Association’s weather service, said that only another 8mm more rain is needed to beat the current record of 157mm and, with thunderstorms due this week, this is likely.

The last similar deluge was when Queen Victoria was on the throne although four years ago the total was 145mm.

This latest record comes after the dampest April across England and Wales since reliable rainfall records began in 1766.

The record-breaking is no comfort to many parts of the country that have suffered floods, despite May’s rainfall being fairly normal as it was near the 30-year average.

MeteoGroup’s forecast manager, Michael Dukes, said that the chances of just one month beating the rainfall record was about one in 250.

Also, June is likely to be the coldest since 1991 with an estimated Central England Temperature (CET) of just 13.3C.

The average CET for the time of year is 14.5C.

“With just a few days of June to go, MeteoGroup’s data show that we are just a few millimetres short of breaking the June record,” Mr Dukes said.

The forecasters have predicted “substantial thundery rain” for tomorrow, as temperatures reach the high 20s in the South East of England.

“Cooler weather will follow over the weekend with showers,” added Mr Dukes.