Key Facts about: Climate Change
Summer and winter precipitation: 1874-2007
England
Recent climate change scenarios have predicted that the UK will experience a change to rainfall patterns. Winters are expected to become wetter, while summers may become drier. The largest relative changes will be in south east England where summer rainfall may decline by up to 50 per cent by the 2080s.
Heavy winter rainfall will become more frequent, but the amount of snow could decline by 90 per cent by the 2080s.
The weather in the UK will continue to vary substantially from year-to-year for entirely natural reasons and any apparent short-term trends should be treated with caution. For example, in 2004 the United Kingdom experienced its wettest August since 1956.
Note: chart shows smoothed figures
- Source:
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (Wallingford), Met Office
- Key Facts:
- Average rainfall and temperature
Data Tables:
Figure 17 data Excel workbook
Further Information:
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Page last modified: 12 August 2007
Page published: 30 October 2004