The Met Office has confirmed what those afflicted by severe flooding in recent weeks might have suspected – this June was the wettest in the UK since records began in 1914.

Provisional figures released this week show that the average rainfall last month was 134.5mm, considerably more than the previous record of 121.2mm in June 1980.

Provisional climate statistics from the Met Office have today shown that the month of June has been the wettest since records began in 1914.

Despite the large amounts of rain across many parts of the country, the average UK temperature has been above the long-term average. June 2007 had a mean temperature of 13.7C, while the long term average is 12.6C.

The Met Office reiterated its position on linking particular weather events to climate change, issuing a statement saying: “At this stage, it is not possible to say whether intense rainfall events are caused by climate change.

“However, there is an expectation of heavier extreme rainfall events in most places as climate warms and the atmosphere becomes moister.”

Sam Bond

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