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UK Weather: Hottest Summer On Record For Seven Years (PICTURES)

Phew, It WAS A Scorcher! It's Been The Hottest Summer On Record For Seven Years
Sara C Nelson
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This summer was a sizzler indeed - as Met Office figures are set to reveal it was the hottest the UK has experienced for seven years.

The figures take into account temperatures from 1 June to 28 August, assuming average conditions for the final three days of the season.

Using these estimates, the UK mean temperature for the summer is 15.2 °C, which is 0.8 °C above the average (all averages refer to 1981-2010 long-term average).

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The UK has enjoyed its hottest summer in seven years

Taking into account the prolonged heatwave which lasted from 3 to 22 July, it's likely this summer will finish around 8th to 10th warmest in the national record dating back to 1910.

In terms of rainfall, the estimate suggests about 189 mm of rain - which is 78 % of the UK average, making this the driest summer since 2006 and ranking about 16th driest in the records dating back to 1910. For south-east England and East Anglia this will be the driest summer since 1995.

Sunshine is also above average for the UK, with 588 hours amounting to about 117 % of the UK average. This ranks it at 7th sunniest in the records going back to 1929.

"While this summer is warmer, drier and sunnier than the long-term average, it hasn't been exceptional," reads a statement form the Met Office.

British Heatwave
Summer weather July 19th(01 of49)
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People relaxing by the fountains at Marble Arch in London. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 19th(02 of49)
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Children playing in fountains as they enjoy the continuing hot weather in the City Square, Bradford. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 19th(03 of49)
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Children playing in fountains as they enjoy the continuing hot weather in the City Square, Bradford. (credit:PA)
Wanstead fire(04 of49)
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Firefighters tackle a grass fire on the edge of Epping Forest near Wanstead in north east London. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 19th(05 of49)
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Children playing in fountains as they enjoy the continuing hot weather in the City Square, Bradford. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 19th(06 of49)
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Swimmers and sunbathers enjoying the hot weather in the mixed bathing ponds of Hampstead Heath, in north London. (credit:PA)
Wanstead fire(07 of49)
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Firefighters tackle a grass fire on the edge of Epping Forest near Wanstead in north east London. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 19th(08 of49)
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Swimmers and sunbathers enjoying the hot weather in the mixed bathing ponds of Hampstead Heath, in north London. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 20(09 of49)
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The cappuccino cycle club climb a hill in Harrogate, North Yorkshire as the longest heatwave for seven years is set to continue across Britain - but the blazing temperatures will bring widespread rain and thunderstorms next week. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 9(10 of49)
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Sisters Lauren, 23 and Ashley, 25 Johnstone (right) from Gateshead enjoy the heatwave at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, during the hot weather that the UK has been enjoying which is expected to last into the weekend. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 9(11 of49)
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Sisters Lauren, 23 and Ashley, 25 Johnstone (right) from Gateshead enjoy the heatwave at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, during the hot weather that the UK has been enjoying which is expected to last into the weekend. (credit:PA)
Summer weather June 20(12 of49)
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A child playing in the water fountain at the South Bank Centre in London (credit:PA)
Heatwave in the UK(13 of49)
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Mud flats at Wallasea Island, Essex, after baking in scorching temperatures over the past few days. (credit:PA)
Weather June 26th(14 of49)
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People soak up the sun on the deckchairs in central London's St James's Park. (credit:PA)
Heatwave Hits Bedfordshire(15 of49)
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Chimpanzees Bonnie and Elvis enjoy a block of fruit filled ice as temperatures soared at Whipsnade Wild Animal Park in Bedfordshire. (credit:PA)
Summer Weather July 12(16 of49)
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People walk along the dried up bed of the river Hodge Beck in Kirkbymoorside in North Yorkshire as the heatwave continues up and down the country. (credit:PA)
Summer Weather July 12(17 of49)
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People walk along the dried up bed of the river Hodge Beck in Kirkbymoorside in North Yorkshire as the heatwave continues up and down the country. (credit:PA)
Summer Weather July 12(18 of49)
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People walk along the dried up bed of the river Hodge Beck in Kirkbymoorside in North Yorkshire as the heatwave continues up and down the country. (credit:PA)
Summer Weather July 12(19 of49)
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People walk along the dried up bed of the river Hodge Beck in Kirkbymoorside in North Yorkshire as the heatwave continues up and down the country. (credit:PA)
Summer Weather July 12(20 of49)
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People walk along the dried up bed of the river Hodge Beck in Kirkbymoorside in North Yorkshire as the heatwave continues up and down the country. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 16th(21 of49)
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Summer Passmore, two, from Clerkenwell, London, cools off in the pavement fountains at the Royal Academy court yard in central London, as the hot weather continues to cover the UK. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 16th(22 of49)
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Summer Passmore, two, from Clerkenwell, London, cools off in the pavement fountains at the Royal Academy court yard in central London, as the hot weather continues to cover the UK. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 16th(23 of49)
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Luella Facer (left) and her friend Summer Passmore, both two and from Clerkenwell, London, cool off in the pavement fountains at the Royal Academy court yard in central London, as the hot weather continues to cover the UK. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 16(24 of49)
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American tourists Lyndsey, 20, (left) from Oklahoma and Brooke, 23 from Texas, relax by a fountain in Trafalgar Square, London as the hot weather is set to continue for the rest of the week. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 16th(25 of49)
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Summer Passmore, two, from Clerkenwell, London, cools off in the pavement fountains at the Royal Academy court yard in central London, as the hot weather continues to cover the UK. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 15th(26 of49)
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A visitor to Green Park, London, enjoys the Summer weather. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 15th(27 of49)
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Punt Chauffeurs Hannah Taylor, 20, and Flo Esplin (right), 18, enjoy the summer sunshine as they take a break between trips on the river Cam in Cambridge. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 15th(28 of49)
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Visitors to Green Park, London, enjoy the Summer weather. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 16(29 of49)
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People relax in deck chairs in St.James Park, central London as the hot weather is set to continue for the rest of the week. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 16th(30 of49)
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A man relaxes in the hot weather in Victoria Tower Gardens in London. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 16th(31 of49)
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A man relaxes in the hot weather in Victoria Tower Gardens in London. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 16(32 of49)
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Black cab driver Tom Rudland, from Surrey, cools down with an ice cream in central London as the hot weather is set to continue for the rest of the week. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 15th(33 of49)
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A man and woman stand on a narrow boat in the River Thames near Penton Hook, Surrey, as the hot weather continues across the UK. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 16(34 of49)
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People cool down in the fountain at Trafalgar Square, London as the hot weather is set to continue for the rest of the week. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 16th(35 of49)
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People relaxing in the hot weather in Victoria Tower Gardens in London. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 16th(36 of49)
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People relaxing in the hot weather in Victoria Tower Gardens in London. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 15th(37 of49)
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A young woman walks through a field of linseed in Fenny Drayton, Leicestershire. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 15th(38 of49)
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A young woman walks through a field of linseed in Fenny Drayton, Leicestershire. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 15th(39 of49)
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A young woman walks through a field of linseed in Fenny Drayton, Leicestershire. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 15th(40 of49)
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A young woman sits in a field of linseed in Fenny Drayton, Leicestershire. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 15th(41 of49)
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Punt Chauffeurs Flo Esplin (left), 18, and Hannah Taylor, 20, enjoy the summer sunshine as they take a break between trips on the river Cam in Cambridge. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 15th(42 of49)
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Punt Chauffeurs Flo Esplin (left), 18, and Hannah Taylor, 20, enjoy the summer sunshine as they take a break between trips on the river Cam in Cambridge. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 15th(43 of49)
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A visitor to Green Park, London, enjoys the Summer weather. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 15th(44 of49)
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A woman relaxing on a park bench in the hot weather in Regent's Park, central London. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 15th(45 of49)
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A man sunbathing in the hot weather in Little Venice, west London. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 15th(46 of49)
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Punt Chauffeurs Hannah Taylor, 20, and Flo Esplin (right), 18, enjoy the summer sunshine as they take a break between trips on the river Cam in Cambridge. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 15th(47 of49)
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Punt Chauffeur Flo Esplin, 18, enjoys the summer sunshine as she takes a break between trips on the river Cam in Cambridge. (credit:PA)
Summer Weather July 6(48 of49)
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Alex (left) and Andrea Pal with their son, Leonardo, aged six-months, from Dagenham, Essex, enjoy the sunshine on the beach at Southend-on-Sea as much of Britain is bathed in sunshine. (credit:PA)
Summer Weather July 14(49 of49)
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People enjoy the warm weather along the River Avon in Stratford-upon-Avon. (credit:PA)

"It stands out because the last six summers have been wetter than average, with 2012 and 2007 both being in the top five wettest, and 2008 and 2009 also in the top ten wettest in records from 1910.

"This summer also contrasts with the rather cool summers of 2011 and 2012."

There were also some very wet days in parts of the UK. Torrential rain on 23 July caused flash flooding in Nottinghamshire and in other parts of Northern England and Scotland. More recently, heavy rain caused some flooding in Essex on 24 August.

Early figures for August have also been released today, showing that the month is likely to finish slightly warmer and drier than average.

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