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Sunday hottest day of the year - but storms are around the corner
Last updated at 08:07am on 13.07.07
Rain: Wet weather predicted to last until September
But this weekend's warmer weather - which will be broken up by thunder storms and showers - is not a sign that summer has finally arrived, forecasters warned.
The outlook for the rest of the month is unsettled with warm spells unlikely until at least August and possibly September.
It means that July is expected to offer little improvement on what was the wettest June on record.
A Met Office spokesman said: "For the next few weeks we will see the changeable, mobile and westerly patterns that are causing the conditions we've already seen in the summer so far. The weather is not going to change much from now until the end of July, our forecasts suggest.
"The 'ice cream weather' that everyone wants to see won't arrive during July and it's too soon to tell whether it will come in August."
The mixed weather is expected to continue this weekend starting with rain and wind across western regions today.
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More scenes like these?: An aerial view showing the devastated village of Catcliffe, near Sheffield, after two days of torrential rain in June
Lightning over Southampton last month
Tomorrow should bring much better conditions-with most of the country in line for a fine and sunny day.
However, outbreaks of rain are expected to return to many areas on Sunday.
The Met Office is also forecasting a mild winter based on an early assessment of readings of water temperatures in the Atlantic. Conditions are not expected to be quite as mild as last winter, which was the second warmest recorded.
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn yesterday announced an inquiry into June's floods which hit 37,000 properties and left thousands homeless. Mr Benn told the Commons that businesses and householders were "understandably asking questions about the flooding - its causes and subsequent management".
The investigation - which follows criticisms of development on flood plains and of the Government's response to the crisis - will look at the role of the Environment Agency, councils and emergency services.
The findings of the review, to be carried out by the Cabinet Office, are expected to be published by the end of the year.
