BRITAIN is set to face a soggy start to the summer – with up to 50 days of rain possible in just three months.
In an outlook for May until July – issued to support the Government and transport chiefs with briefings – the Met Office says damp weather is 50 per cent more likely than normal.
The three-month forecast says the chances of a wetter-than-average period are higher than a drier-than-average one this year, particularly at the start.
Last year’s washout saw rain on 40 days – which is near average.
This sparked fears Britain could be hit with closer to 50 days of rain this holiday season – making it the soggiest since 1912 when showers struck on 55 days.
This means major events including the Trooping of the Colour, Royal Ascot, Wimbledon and the Formula 1 British Grand Prix could all be blighted by bleak weather.
There needs to be 2.5mm or more of rain within 24 hours to count as a rainy day.
Forecasters are blaming the wet outlook on low pressure systems.
The Met Office long-range forecast said: “The chances of a wetter-than-average period are higher than a drier-than-average one.
“Rainfall at this time of year has a greater risk of localised heavy downpours and thunderstorms.”
It means major events including the Trooping of the Colour, Royal Ascot, Wimbledon and the Formula 1 British Grand Prix could all be blighted by bleak weather.
Forecasters are blaming the wet outlook on low pressure systems.
But the Met Office emphasised it is difficult to accurately predict the weather beyond five days due to the chaotic nature of the atmosphere.
It said the chances of a wet or dry summer are fairly balanced at the moment, but spells of unsettled conditions are expected – which is likely to lead to downpours and thunderstorms in some regions.
The outlook could change as more information becomes available.
There needs to be 2.5mm or more of rain within 24 hours to count as a rainy day.
Britons got a taste of the dreary weather over the Bank Holiday weekend when sunny spells were interrupted by showers for much of the UK.
The rain turned heavy — with hail in places — and flooding hit Wynyard, County Durham.
The RAC estimated that more than 20million leisure car journeys were made over the weekend — the most since pre-pandemic levels.
But motorists faced gridlocks across the country as many Bank Holiday sunseekers cut their trips short over the poor weather.
Delays also hit the ferry routes from Dover, flights from Birmingham Airport and the trains — on the busy West Coast Main Line and in and out of Portsmouth.
Showers eased last night and there is set to be bright start today, but it will turn overcast.
Hail and thunder could also return later in the week, but it is set to be dry by Friday.