This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6971370.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 2007 'probably wettest UK summer' | 2007 'probably wettest UK summer' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Torrential rain across the UK is likely to mean the summer of 2007 will have been the wettest since records began in 1914, Met Office figures suggest. | |
| Provisional tallies show a total of 358.5mm (14.114in) of rain fell on the UK, narrowly beating the previous 1956 record of 358.4mm (14.110in). | Provisional tallies show a total of 358.5mm (14.114in) of rain fell on the UK, narrowly beating the previous 1956 record of 358.4mm (14.110in). |
| However, more data has to be collected, which may push 2007 into second place. | However, more data has to be collected, which may push 2007 into second place. |
| The weather has been attributed to an unusually southerly jet stream, which brought depressions across the country. | The weather has been attributed to an unusually southerly jet stream, which brought depressions across the country. |
| 'Very disappointing' | 'Very disappointing' |
| Keith Groves, head of forecasting at the Met Office, said: "These figures confirm what most people have already been thinking - this summer has been very wet and very disappointing for most." | Keith Groves, head of forecasting at the Met Office, said: "These figures confirm what most people have already been thinking - this summer has been very wet and very disappointing for most." |
| See graph of UK rainfall | See graph of UK rainfall |
| The jet stream is a band of high-powered winds that determine weather systems across the UK. For much of the summer it was further south and stronger than in previous years. | The jet stream is a band of high-powered winds that determine weather systems across the UK. For much of the summer it was further south and stronger than in previous years. |
| Heavy rain in June saw severe flooding in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and the Midlands. | Heavy rain in June saw severe flooding in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and the Midlands. |
| About 7,000 homes in Hull and more than 1,200 in Sheffield were affected. | About 7,000 homes in Hull and more than 1,200 in Sheffield were affected. |
| In July swathes of England and Wales were left inundated after intense rainfall led to rivers bursting their banks. | In July swathes of England and Wales were left inundated after intense rainfall led to rivers bursting their banks. |
| WETTEST UK SUMMERS 2007 - 358.5mm*1956 - 358.4mm1985 - 342.7mm1927 - 336.3mm1931 - 327.0mm * ProvisionalSource: Met Office | WETTEST UK SUMMERS 2007 - 358.5mm*1956 - 358.4mm1985 - 342.7mm1927 - 336.3mm1931 - 327.0mm * ProvisionalSource: Met Office |
| Seven people died when the River Severn burst its banks in Gloucestershire, and more than 350,000 people were left without running water after a treatment works was submerged. | Seven people died when the River Severn burst its banks in Gloucestershire, and more than 350,000 people were left without running water after a treatment works was submerged. |
| Flood damage | Flood damage |
| In Hereford and Worcestershire, local authorities called in the RAF after thousands of motorists became stranded on the M5. | In Hereford and Worcestershire, local authorities called in the RAF after thousands of motorists became stranded on the M5. |
| The operation to airlift people from cars, boats and their homes was one of the RAF's biggest peace-time manoeuvres. | The operation to airlift people from cars, boats and their homes was one of the RAF's biggest peace-time manoeuvres. |
| The scale of the damage led to the government lodging an application for support under the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) for coping with natural disasters. | The scale of the damage led to the government lodging an application for support under the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) for coping with natural disasters. |
| Flood Recovery Minister John Healey said the total cost of the flood damage was now estimated at £2.7bn. | Flood Recovery Minister John Healey said the total cost of the flood damage was now estimated at £2.7bn. |
| The Association of British Insurers has claimed the cost of the flooding may be as high £3bn. | The Association of British Insurers has claimed the cost of the flooding may be as high £3bn. |
| Return | Return |