BRITAIN will be drenched in rain for the next ten days — ending the country's shortest drought ever after less than a week.
Experts have predicted unsettled weather and downpours across the UK, with up to three months' worth of rain set to fall at the start of next week.
Racegoers at Ascot's Ladies Day came prepared with brollies, and were determined not to let the wet weather dampen their spirit.
Flooding
Wimbledon and Glastonbury are both expected to be soaked — raising fears of a flooding similar to the one the Somerset festival experienced six years ago.
The country has had almost continuous rain since Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman declared a drought last Friday, solemnly urging millions of people to do all they could to save water.
But Julian Mayes of MeteoGroup said today: "In terms of water, the drought has clearly ended. Next week will dwarf what some areas had through spring, with areas receiving in a week the rainfall they had in three months. Widespread rain across all of Britain is due tomorrow."
Brolly good time ... female racegoers don't let rain dampen their fun at Ascot
He added: "The South East will get rain falling widely right through next week. It will be very unsettled and cool - and remains unsettled until towards the end of June.
"Tomorrow will be particularly wet, with steady rain arriving in the morning in the South West and Wales, by evening in drought-hit areas including East Anglia and Lincolnshire, and in the North and Scotland by night.
Can't face it ... worker hides his head under umbrella to protect himself from downpour
"It will be raining simultaneously almost everywhere in Britain, with 24-hour totals of 20mm to 30mm expected in the South West and Wales, with 10mm in the South East but the East Midlands receiving more rain."
Meanwhile, BBC forecaster Philip Avery said the end of the drought echoed a similar scenario more than 30 years ago.
He said: "Those with a memory of 1976 will recall how the breaking of that year's drought coincided with the appointment of a 'Minister of Drought.' The past week's rainfall won't have made up the spring deficit in many parts of England and Wales, but does coincide with the official declaration of drought in several areas."
Floods at Glastonbury ... tents at festival were drowned in water in 2005
Farmers will welcome the rain after they were predicted to lose up to 15 per cent of the wheat crops this year.
Things
WILL look up for those worried the British Summer has been rained off — as forecasters said July is expected to be much brighter.
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