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Extreme weather: UK set to experience one month’s rain in five days

The April washout is set to continue as forecasters predict a month’s worth of rainfall will fall in five days across many parts of Britain.

Forecasters are warning that total rainfall could exceed 60mm in southern counties of England and the north east of Scotland as a system of low pressure from the Atlantic lingers over Britain.

The monthly average rainfall for April is 54mm for the UK as a whole. April 2012 is now on course to be the wettest since 2000.


No flood warnings have been officially issued yet, although there is a high risk of hail, thunder and gale force wind in the worst affected areas.


Temperatures will also struggle to get above the average for this time of year, varying between 12C - 16C in the day and 1C - 3C at night.


[Related link: Check your local five-day forecast]


Speaking to Yahoo! News, Met Office forecaster Charlie Powell said: “It’s not all doom and gloom - Tuesday will be a day of sunshine and showers.”

Netweather forecaster Paul Michaelwhite added: “April is living up to its reputation – with ‘power showers’ meaning anyone leaving home has needed waterproofs.

Although the rain will be welcomed by farmers across the drought-hit South East, where the effects of two dry winters in a row have taken its toll, the Environment Agency warns that it will be nowhere near enough to alleviate drought conditions.


                                            [Related story: Drought 'may last until Christmas']


Environment chiefs last week warned that the ongoing drought - which has forced water restrictions - could continue beyond Christmas.

Much of England is on course to record the coldest April since 1989, with temperatures averaging just 7C so far.


The topsy turvy weather is a far cry from last April’s heatwave, which was the warmest for 100 years.

And March's balmy weather is now just a distant memory.

Let’s just hope the old saying comes true: “March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers.”