Experts explain why we had rain 40 days running

THE first few weeks of the year have been exceptionally wet, with 26 weather stations across the UK setting new monthly rainfall records in January.

- MAXINE DENTON [e-mail]

Flooding at Axminster during Storm Chandra

(James Loveridge)

In the South West, Plymouth recorded its wettest January day in 104 years, Hurn (Dorset) the wettest in 74 years and Dunkeswell (Devon) in 57 years. North Wyke in Devon logged 40 consecutive wet days from December 31 to February 8.

Cardinham near Bodmin in Cornwall also reached 40 consecutive wet days over the same period, while Astwood Bank in Hereford and Worcester matched that 40-day run during the same period. Two further locations recorded 37-day runs: Liscombe in Somerset (January 3 to February 8) and Camborne in Cornwall (January 3 to February 8).

The Met Office said many have been left with a sense that winter has been "stuck on repeat". The UK has already seen 89% of the average rainfall expected for meteorological winter (December, January and February) - while England has exceeded it by 11%, it said.

Provisional Met Office figures for February so far show that rainfall has continued to run ahead of schedule in many parts of the UK. The UK has already seen 37% of the average rainfall expected for the whole of February, while England has already reached 59% of its monthly average.