Weekend washout leaves this month wetter than July 1976
Heavy rain during the past few days means this month is on track to end up wetter than July 1976.
An average 44mm of rain fell across the UK from July 1 to July 28, according to provisional figures from the Met Office.
The total for the whole of July 1976, when the UK was in the middle of a blistering heatwave, was 43.3mm.
With further rain forecast on its way this week, the final total for July 2018 could be even higher.
Rainfall is still well below the long-term average, however.
Up to July 28, the UK had received just 56% of its average for the month.
Bedfordshire had received only 17% - the lowest for any area of the country.
Hertfordshire had enjoyed just 18%, while Essex had received only 19%.
The UK suffered a long heatwave during the summer of 1976, which helped make July 1976 the joint ninth driest on record.
The driest ever July was in 1955, when an average of 30.6mm rainfall was measured across the UK.
Comparable records for rainfall date back to 1910.
Meanwhile hot weather is forecast to return to parts of the country later this week, the Met Office said.
The south and east of the UK could see temperatures rise to the low 30s by the weekend.
By contrast, the north and west will be cooler and see cloudier weather with a risk of showers.
An area of high pressure will settle over the UK this week. If it persists, hot conditions could continue at least to the start of next week and possibly into the middle of August, the Met Office added.
