Flaming June? Hardly... it’s the wettest one ever!

SCOTLAND has suffered its wettest June on record after being deluged by more than six inches of rain.

The country has already been hit by almost double the average rainfall this month, making it the wettest June since records began in 1931.

The Met Office figures were released as parts of Scotland were lashed by heavy rains, with some areas in the northeast seeing as much as two inches of rainfall yesterday.

Such relentless summer rain sparked weather and flood warnings for the south and east of the country and Met Office officials warned motorists to be vigilant amid an expected downpour in the Edinburgh area last night.

The advice extended into the aftermath of the deluge this morning, with forecasters saying: ‘Following the overnight rainfall there is likely to be a lot of standing water on roads through the morning rush hour, as well as a low risk of some local flooding.’

Scots are suffering from the knock-on effect of a ‘European monsoon’ caused when westerly Atlantic winds strengthened and brought increased rainfall this month after winds eased during spring.

The Atlantic rains have also hit northern and western England, sparking flood warnings in several areas.

Despite a warm start to the month, measurements taken from Met Office equipment at Edinburgh’s Botanic Garden saw a record for June rainfall of 6.2in, while another in Leuchars, Fife, recorded 5.4in.

More heavy rainfall is expected today, which means the average 3.2in of rainfall during a typical June north of the Border could be doubled.

A Met Office spokesman said: ‘We have another day left in the month, but we can say for certain that the Botanic Garden in Edinburgh and Leuchars have had their wettest ever June.

‘After the dry spring, there has been a sustained period of low pressure over the past few weeks. But over the next week or so it looks like it will start to break up and there will be some warmer, drier periods.

‘But it looks like there will be more rain on the way towards the middle of next week.’

Following the Met Office warning for the east of the country, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency also issued a flood warning for the Borders. A spokesman said: ‘Heavy rain that has fallen overnight will continue, posing a risk of potential impacts from persistent rainfall.

‘Particularly at risk are small water courses, urban areas and roads, where there may be difficult driving conditions.

‘Remain vigilant – it is your responsibility to take actions which help protect yourself and your property.’

In contrast to Scotland’s washout summer, England has enjoyed one of the hottest Junes since temperature records began in 1659.

Met Office figures show this month’s average is 16.3C (60F) in central England, placing it in the top 15 hottest Junes in the past 358 years.

The miserable weather came after the UK enjoyed one of the warmest springs in more than a century.

Last month, Scotland basked in glorious weather, with temperatures in Lossiemouth, Moray, hitting 29.4C (85F) on May 26.

Forecasters said the unprecedented dry spell was due to wind from the north and east preventing Atlantic weather systems from bringing more unsettled weather.

Next month is expected to start with a drier weekend, with highs of 18C (64F).

‘European monsoon’