2012 set to enter a soggy record book (From The Oxford Times)

2012 set to enter a soggy record book

9:30am Wednesday 2nd January 2013 in News

OXFORDSHIRE looks set to have experienced the second wettest year on record, according to the latest figures from the Met Office.

With a likely total of 947mm falling on the county throughout 2012, only the 1960 figure of 982.4mm tops it since records began in 1910. With many parts of the country still flooded, 2012 is set to be the wettest year on record for the whole of the UK.

The Met Office recorded that 917.8mm had fallen on Oxfordshire by December 27, 2012, with an estimated 30mm falling between December 27 and yesterday.

The final figure is due to be confirmed today.

Meanwhile, flood water receded over the weekend in roads around the city but last night eight Oxfordshire waterways remained on flood warning, meaning flooding is expected and urgent action should be taken.

Environment Agency spokesman Joe Giacomelli said: “River levels are going to remain high over the next couple of days but we are in for a dry spell.

“It is going to give us a bit of respite and time for river levels to come down.”

Today is forecast to be damp – after a possible touch of frost overnight – with up to 6mm of rain.

After that conditions should improve through the week with dry weather and temperatures of up to 12C.

For live updates, see oxfordmail.co.uk