Forecast of more rain could lead to one of wettest Mays on record

More rain showers are forecast for the week ahead, setting the scene for what could be one of the wettest Mays on record.

By Friday there had been 91% of the expected rainfall for the entire month, with 63.5mm having fallen already.

The wettest May on record was in 1967, when 131.7mm of rain fell across the UK.

Met Office forecaster Steven Keates said even if the record is not broken, it will be a “notably wet month”.

He said: “If you were to extrapolate what we’ve had so far and say the second half of the month was similar to the first, then you would probably be challenging a record wet May.

“On the basis that a fair amount of rain is probably quite likely over the next couple of weeks, it’s probably going to be up there.”

Monday, when pubs and restaurants can reopen indoors in England, will be a day of sunshine and showers, he said.

“It’s sunglasses one minute and umbrellas the next,” he added.

There are likely to be heavy showers with a risk of thunder “up and down the country”, he said.

He added: “So if you can go in, it might be the best option.”

There is hope for drier weather as spring comes to an end.

“There are hints, however, as we move towards the turn of the month into June of perhaps a bit of a dry trend,” said Mr Keates.

“So some tentative glimmers of light at the end of the tunnel.”