CHANGEABLE WEATHER FORECAST FOR ELECTION DAY

Added: (Thu May 24 2001)

Pressbox (Press Release) - Early indications suggest Polling Day will occur in the middle of a spell of changeable weather. At this stage, the best chance of warm sunny weather appears to be in the north and west but, generally speaking, temperatures are likely to be near or just below normal.

With two weeks to go, a detailed weather forecast still isn't possible, but a look back through the record books shows early June to be a period of varied weather. Temperatures have soared above 30 Celsius in the past, but conversely, night frosts have occurred as well.

Average temperatures range from 19 Celsius in the south, to 16 Celsius in the north with rain falling on about one day in three. The rain tends to be quite showery, and an average day will have over six hours of sunshine.

Mark Gibbs, public service manager at the Met Office said: "It's still too early to give a specific forecast for Election Day itself. Recent elections have seen plenty of different weather illustrating the changeable nature of the UK's weather at this time. We'll have a better idea about the forecast about five days before the day itself."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. These forecasts will be updated between now and Election Day.

2. The weather on the last five Election Days is summarised below:

1 May 1997
Dry and sunny across England and Wales. However, it was cloudier
across Northern Ireland and Scotland although even here the cloud was thin
enough to give some good spells of sunshine.



9 April 1992
Dry with mostly unbroken sunshine across England and Wales. Northern
Ireland and Scotland were cloudy with outbreaks of rain affecting north and
west Scotland.

11 June 1987
Sunny across south Wales, southwest and central southern England.
Elsewhere, cloudy with thunderstorms in the afternoon along a line from
north Wales, through London, to north Kent.

9 June 1983
Many places across the UK had light showers during the day. However
the cloud broke at times to allow some sunshine.

3 May 1979
Cold and showery everywhere. The showers were mostly light, but
temperatures were well below normal.



For further information:

Met Office press office 01344 856655
or
Sara Lipscombe/Jane Lackenby at Prowse & Co on 01372 363386
News release is available online at http://www.prowse.co.uk/newsf.html

24 May 2001