The Olympics are likely to experience the kind of poor weather that has characterised the summer so far, forecasters said today.
The UK is very unlikely to see a long hot and sunny spell at the height of summer, and the inclement weather experienced in June and early July is set to still be in evidence when the Games kick off at the end of this month.
But overall conditions are unlikely to be as bad as they have been, the Met Office said.
Rain clouds above the Olympic rings on Tower Bridge
In its outlook for the weather for the next six to 30 days up to early August, the Met Office said: "Climatologically this is the warmest part of the year, but this year a protracted spell of hot, sunny weather looks very unlikely.
"In fact inclement weather that has characterised June and early July will probably still be in evidence, although overall conditions are unlikely to be as bad."
The southern half of the UK is likely to see below average sunshine and temperatures from mid July into the beginning of August.
And while the outlook for rainfall in the south is "extremely uncertain" over the next few weeks it is slightly more likely that southern areas will experience very wet conditions than very dry weather.
It is not yet clear what the weather is likely to be in northern parts of the UK, but conditions may improve into August, the Met Office said.