BRITISH WEATHER

THE UK has been SCORCHED for weeks now – and the Met Office has even told us to stay indoors.

Many have ignored them and flocked to the beach, but there are a few who wish the usual rainy weather would return.

As it stands, the UK is set to bake for at least another five weeks meaning we’re on course for our hottest summer EVER.

So as you sweat, here are 10 things you might not have known about our weather…

December 1952, a toxic smog descended on London. The killer mix of smoke and fog stayed for five days, leading to the premature deaths of over 4,000 people. As a result the government introduced the Clean Air Act in Britain. THE great storm of 1953 was Britain’s worse peacetime disaster, claiming the lives of 326 people.

hottest period of weather occurred between June 23, 1976 and July 7, when for 15 consecutive days the temperature topped 32C ( 90F) every day at one or more stations in England.

coldest winter in living memory lasted for three long months. It was so cold that even the sea froze over and on February 25, 1963, a record low of - 21C was recorded. 156 days of the year, some rain falls somewhere in the UK and the average amount of yearly rainfall for the UK is 45 inches. highest ever temperature was 38.5C ( 101F), recorded in Faversham in Kent in August 2003. ENGLAND and Wales were hit by flooding during the wettest autumn for more than 200 years in 2000. North Yorkshire’s River Ouse reached its highest level since 1625.

1987, a storm hit Britain causing around £ 1billion worth of damage and killing 18 people. IN August 2000, SPRATS rained on Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, due to a mini- tornado. THE Birmingham tornado of 2005 was one of the strongest recorded in the UK. There were no fatalities, but damage cost over £ 40million.