UK weather: Heavy rain hits as bookies shorten odds on 'wettest September ever'

Summer is definitely over.

Britain has been hit by some very autumnal weather with heavy rain and strong gales – and there is not much better to come over the next few days, say forecasters.

Up to 20 millimetres of rain is set to hit southern England on Friday, almost a fifth of September’s average rainfall in just 24 hours.

“We are looking at some heavy rain over the South and the South-west of England and there will be some heavy rain,” said a Met Office spokeswoman.

The North and North-west of England will be hit by showers, and Northern Ireland could be set for showers later this evening.

The unsettled weather is set to continue into the week, and forecasters say it is too early yet to see if the UK is on track for an “Indian Summer” in October.

Events affected by the weather today include the Third Test match at Lord’s between England and the West Indies and the Bestival festival in Dorset. Also hit was the Goodwood Revival motor festival in Sussex.

On average, 96 millimetres of rain usually falls throughout September.

And there wasn’t much good news on the temperature front either.

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Temperatures could also fall, giving Britain a fairly dismal start to the beginning of Autumn, said the Met Office.

And if you think that is bad, consider this, one bookmaker is already offering odds on this month being the wettest September ever on record

Bookmaker Coral has slashed the odds on that happening from 4-1 to 2-1.

And, possibly worse, the odds are shortening on a white September.

It is also offering 4-1 for snow to fall anywhere in Britain this month.