News release

7 March 2007

Met Office forecast for spring 2007

Spring 2007 is set to be another mild season with average to above-average rainfall across the UK, Met Office climate experts are saying today.

The Met Office has just released its official forecast for spring 2007 stating that:

• there is a 70% probability that the mean temperature through the spring months of March through to May will be above the long-term average;
• there is a signal for average to above-average rainfall across the UK over the spring.

This forecast for warmer and wetter-than-average conditions comes on the back of a mild and wet winter season for all parts of the UK and follows a 12-month period which has been the warmest on record.

The Met Office forecast of global mean temperature for 2007, issued on 4 January 2007 in conjunction with the University of East Anglia, stated that 2007 is likely to be the warmest ever year on record going back to 1850, beating the current record set in 1998.

The introduction of regular seasonal predictions helps complete the range of forecasts that the Met Office provides. Weather forecasts typically go out to five days, whereas longer-range climate predictions issued by the Met Office look forward many decades ahead. This move by the Met Office to provide a series of forecasts from 24 hour to 100 years, helps businesses and government handle the challenges that weather and climate change bring. Katie Hopkins, partner in Met Office Consulting said: "working with the Met Office gives businesses the best opportunity to make smart strategic decisions. Understanding weather and climate change is vital for the future".

The Met Office will issue a forecast for the summer months of June – August at the beginning of April 2007.

Notes:

Met Office climate change consultancy provides data and risk-management services that are used by other government departments and agencies, the private sector and the public to mitigate and adapt to climate change.