Driest September in the UK Since Records Began in 1910

This month has been the driest September in the UK since records began in 1910, with exceptionally low rainfall for many parts of the country, new figures can reveal.

The Met Office has revealed from 1 to 28 September, the UK has only received 19.4mm of rainfall - 20% of the normal amount expected for the month. Before this, the driest September on record was in 1959 with 23.8 mm.

It is also the fourth warmest September for over 100 years - with the mean temperature settling around 13.9C - 1.2C higher than normal.

Northern Ireland, however is on course to break the record for dryness with only 6.5 mm of rain, just 7% of the average. The previous record was set in 1986, with 9.7mm. England, Wales and Scotland are likely to have their second driest September on record, with earlier records being set in 1959 (7.9mm), 1959 (11.7mm) and 1972 (31.7mm) respectively.

"Following the wettest January to August on record, water resources in England are around normal for the time of year," said Trevor Bishop, Environment Agency deputy director of water resources.

"We also look ahead by modelling how rivers and groundwater may respond to different future rainfall patterns. The results show a broadly positive picture and even if rainfall is below average this autumn the country will not go into drought."

A Met Office spokesman said: "The dry and warm conditions this month have been caused by high pressure dominating our weather for much of the month. This tends to block more unsettled weather heading in off the Atlantic, leaving the UK with fine, dry and fairly sunny weather at this time of the year."

The table below shows the September records across the UK.