The latest seasonal forecast from the Met Office issued today, reveals that this summer is, yet again, likely to be warmer than normal.
Following the trend set throughout 2006 and the first part of 2007, seasonal forecasters say they there is a high probability that summer temperature will exceed the 1971-2000 long-term average of 14.1 C.
They also suggest the chances of temperatures similar to those experienced in 2003 and 2006 are around 1 in 8.
The forecast for rainfall is less certain and currently there are no indications of an increased risk of a particularly dry or particularly wet summer.
The official forecast for Summer 2007 can be seen on the Met Office website at http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/seasonal/summer2007/index.html - http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/seasonal/summer2007/inde x.html .
The Met Office forecast of global mean temperature for 2007, issued on 4 January 2007 in conjunction with the University of East Anglia, stated that 2007 is likely to be the warmest ever year on record going back to 1850, beating the current record set in 1998. http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/2007/pr20070104.html - http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/2007/pr200 70104.html