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Record Rainfall For January, And More To Come

Record Rainfall For January, And More To Come

Heavy rain will sweep across most of the UK on Friday bringing the risk of further flooding in Somerset as figures show parts of the south saw the wettest January since 1910.

The Met Office said the UK would see between 10mm and 20mm of rain, which, combined with high spring tides and saturated ground, could cause more misery for places like Somerset.

Sky News weather presenter Isobel Lang said: "During tomorrow an Atlantic frontal system will sweep across us bringing in strong winds, heavy rain and mountain snow

"The highest rainfall is likely to be across the west, especially across Wales and southwest England, although the south still looks more at risk from flooding due to a combination of recent rain, high ground water and river levels."

The forecast is being taken seriously at Aberystwyth University, which is evacuating students from halls of residence on the seafront over the weekend as a precautionary measure.

The promenade of the mid-Wales town was severely damaged in violent storms early in January.

An email sent to students on Thursday said: "Following advice from Natural Resources Wales and Ceredigion Council the university has taken the decision to cancel all teaching activities on Friday, January 31 and Monday, February 3.

"To ensure your safety during the high tides and stormy weather, the Seafront University Residences will close at 4pm on Friday, January 31 until you hear differently, which could be Monday, February 3."

It comes as southeast and central southern England recorded the wettest January since records began in 1910.

The Met Office statistics reveal both regions have received more than twice their average rainfall with 175.2mm between January 1 and 28. This beats the previous record of 158.2mm set in January 1988.

A large area from East Devon to Kent and inland across parts of the Midlands has already seen twice the average rainfall for the month.

Southwest England and south Wales saw the fifth wettest January on record with rainfall reaching 222.6mm up to January 28. It was the wettest since 1995, when 224.4mm fell.

The wettest January on record in this region was in 1948, when 244.3mm of rain was recorded.

Although the UK as a whole has seen above average rainfall in January, Scotland only saw a 6% increase while Northern Ireland saw a 25% rise and England 35%.

Inverness and Kinross in Scotland were drier than normal.

"For the UK as a whole, 164.6 mm of rain has fallen so far this month, 35% above the long-term average, with all nations having above average rainfall," a Met Office spokesman said.

"We have seen quite a contrast from south to north across the UK, with northern Scotland having received 85% of its long-term average rainfall so far this month, a sharp contrast to the 200% over southern England."

The wet weather has been accompanied by milder temperatures with the mean temperature across the UK up to January 28 at 4.9C, 1.2C above average.

"The main reason for the mild and wet weather so far is that we have seen a predominance of west and south-west winds, bringing in mild air from the Atlantic - as well as the unsettled and at times stormy conditions."

The wettest winter on record was in 1915 with 437.1mm of rainfall.

:: Watch Sky News for special coverage from Somerset, live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.