Just when you thought it was safe to assume Britain's wettest summer on record was over, along comes yet more torrential rain accompanied, this time, with blustery gales and coastal flood warnings.  The soggy summer took a turn for the worse yesterday as gale force winds and heavy rain swept across much of the UK, creating yet more misery for holidaymakers hoping to find a place in the sun. The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings set to last until later today with up to 75mm of rain expected over some areas.

The Environment Agency also warned that people living on the coast should be aware of the risk of coastal flooding during gale force winds.  In what has become a common pattern of this year, beaches, parks and tourist attractions that were buzzing with sun-seeking visitors just two days ago were suddenly left deserted as rain lashed the south coast and western regions before moving north.  

Gales off the south coast were so strong that organisers of the Fastnet yacht race, a biannual 608-mile race from the Isle of Wight to the Fastnet Rock off southern Ireland and back, said that at least half of the boats taking part had been forced to retire.  "For some boats it was not so much the wind but the accompanying sea state that was proving exhausting for the crews," said a race spokesperson.  Parts of Wales, the Midlands and the North-west are expected to bear the brunt of the heavy rain, caused by a low-pressure weather system sweeping in from the Atlantic.

Flood warnings were in place across some areas but experts said the chances of a repeat of last month's floods were slim.  Joe Giacomelli, spokesman for the Environment Agency said : "It's early days yet. We are expecting a few flood watches along the coast because of the gales which could be a strong as 50mph. Thankfully it looks like after Wednesday it will calm down a bit and we're unlikely to see the sort of deluges that occurred last month."  The latest wet and windy weather is in marked contrast to the past two weeks, which have seen some of the best temperatures this summer.

Last week beaches were packed as temperatures rose as high as 30C.  Piers Corbyn, a meteorological consultant who predicts long-term weather prospects by monitoring solar energy, said: "Our methods had always warned that this summer was going to be generally wet and lousy. The rest of August looks set to remain unsettled."  The Met Office said that while the chances of severe flooding in those regions that are currently recovering after last month's deluge were small, heavy rain could lead to flash flooding in Wales, which has so far largely escaped widespread flooding.  
(By Jerome Taylor, The Independent, 15/08/2007)