2012 weather: wettest year on record?
Further downpours and an Atlantic storm are expected over the weekend, bringing 2012 closer to becoming the wettest year since records began more than 100 years ago.
Provisional figures show 2012 has been England’s wettest year since records began in 1910 – a year of drought to flood.
Another 46mm of rain from 27-31 Dec would make 2012 the wettest year on record, surpassing 2000, according to Channel 4’s Liam Dutton. And that is exactly what is forecast for the weekend: up to 50mm of rain and 90mph winds in some areas.
(Pictured: St Denys’ church, Severn Stoke, Worcestershire)
This year is already 13th in the list of wettest years since records began in 1910.
Another 46mm of rain from 27-31 Dec would make 2012 wettest year on record for whole of UK. Current wettest year is 2000. #c4news
— Liam Dutton (@liamdutton) December 27, 2012
The year 2000 was the wettest, with 1,337.3mm, but this year’s average rainfall has already reached 1,202mm excluding December. That includes spells of official drought earlier in the year, which were marked by days and days of heavy rain. Easter was also a washout, with strong winds and heavy rain.
Look back to April 2012: the wettest drought on record?
A forecaster for MeteoGroup said: “New bands of rain will sweep across Britain from west to east today, tomorrow and Saturday, bringing some heavy showers. There will be some sunshine and clearer skies on Saturday but it will be a stormy weekend and noticeably wet and windy.
“Winds will reach up to 50mph in the north and west of the UK, and up to 90mph along the west coast of Scotland.”
Travel advice
Go to the National Rail Enquiries live updates webpage for the latest information on train disruptions.
The Environment Agency provides regular updates here about flooding, and expected flooding across the country.
And if you are planning a car journey, check out the AA website and its route planner.
The wet weather has brought travel difficulties to commuters and passengers attempting to to travel on the first day back to work for many after the Christmas and Boxing day breaks. West of Exeter, a line was washed away by the downpours. Network Rail says it is hopeful that trains will be up and running again by Saturday.
Train chaos
The disruption has been compounded by over-running engineering work, which meant there were no trains between Paddington and Heathrow Airport in London, or between Paddington and Reading. London Midlands services in the Birmingham area are also delayed after the company said there were limited platforms available at Birmingham New Street after engineering work.
Trains in Scotland are also facing disruption, including at Haymarket in Edinburgh, where there are delays of up to 40 minutes.
Arriva Trains Wales also reported problems between Neath and Swansea due to signalling problems. Meanwhile, landslide warnings remain in place in the south west, as saturated ground increases the risk of rockfall and cliff-edge collapse.