Summer could be on its way at last

This summer’s record-breaking grim weather has been caused by the jet stream settling unusually far south and now experts believe it is on its way back north, restoring a “more usual summer pattern”.

The wettest April to June on record, followed by more heavy rain so far this month, has caused widespread – and in some cases, repeated – flooding, with Hebden Bridge and the surrounding area being deluged twice in less than three weeks.

More showers are expected to dampen the nation’s spirits over the coming days, with heavy rain in the middle of the week, forecasters said.

Tom Tobler, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the Press Association’s weather division, said: “There is going to be more rain.

He said there would be patchy rain around today, more towards the north and said tomorrow would be very wet in parts of southern Scotland, northern England, Northern Ireland and north Wales.

He said there will be some rain around on Thursday, but not as heavy as the previous day.

Looking ahead to the latter part of the week, he added: “We will get high pressure building to the west, and it looks like that’s going to give us a couple of dry days on Friday and Saturday.

“It looks like there’s going to be high pressure across the south of the UK, so it looks like it’s going to be generally drier next week. But northern areas will see some rain, particularly northern Scotland.”

Flood-hit businesses in Hebden Bridge and other areas of the Calder Valley can apply for a share of Calderdale Council’s £250,000 Rise Fund.

Small to medium-sized businesses that were affected by the floods and suffered loss of stock, loss of business, damage to business premises can apply, as can those wanting to install specialist barriers and similar equipment. Call Luke Doran on 01422 392156.