Provisional statistics from the Met Office show last year was the second wettest on record in the UK; only the year 2000 received a few millimetres more rain than 2012 since records began in 1910.

As well as being one of the dimmest years on record, 2012 saw the wettest summer six months on record and had the wettest April and June. Total rainfall in 2012 was just 6.6 mm below 2000's record amount. The effects of the wet weather were disastrous for some in the UK, most notably farmers.

Although some crops fared reasonably well despite cool, damp conditions and below average sunlight, the effects were catastrophic for many orchard, horticulture and arable crops; yields and quality of crops were well down. Unsettled weather continued into December, with flooding causing disruption up until the New Year.  

In November, the latest month for which figures are available, somewhere in the region of 30,000 hectares is thought to have been affected by flooding. The South West and areas of the North West were particularly badly affected by the latest bout of flooding.

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 According to the Met Office, a breakdown by country reveals 2012 was the wettest year on record for England, third wettest for Wales, 17th wettest for Scotland and only 40th wettest for Northern Ireland.

UK getting wetter

Met Office figures suggest the UK is getting wetter. Of the five wettest years on record, four have occurred since 2000. A spokesperson said, “Preliminary evidence suggests we are getting slightly more rain in total and it may be falling in more intense bursts."

30-year long-term averages show an increase in annual rainfall of about 5 percent from 1961-1990 to 1981-2010. The figures also suggest 'extreme' days of rainfall may be becoming more common.

Professor Julia Slingo, Chief Scientist at the Met Office, said, "The trend towards more extreme rainfall events is one we are seeing around the world, in countries such as India and China, and now potentially here in the UK. Much more research is needed to understand more about the causes and potential implications.

"It's essential we look at how this may impact our rainfall patterns going forward over the next decade and beyond, so we can advise on the frequency of extreme weather in the future and the potential for more surface and river flooding. This will help inform decision-making about the need for future resilience both here in the UK and globally."

Climate change experts have suggested that, as the changes take effect, Northern Europe could begin to see more rainfall, whilst rainfall in Southern Europe declines. Spain and areas of South-Eastern Europe were affected by serious drought this summer. Met Office analysts suggested changes in sea surface temperatures caused by "natural cycles and reducing amounts of Arctic sea-ice" could also be influencing the changing patterns in rainfall, though they add that a warming in global temperature could also play a part.