FORECASTERS are predicting a drier weekend after Cumbria recorded rainfall totals 170 per cent higher than the average August.

The Met Office says that Cumbria has seen rainfall levels significantly higher than an average August.

"Cumbria as a whole has had 196.8mm of rain so far this August, so that's not inclusive of today (August 28), so it's up to August 27.

"This is 170 per cent up on the typical August rainfall, for the Cumbria region," explained Met Office forecaster Bonnie Diamond.

"It has been significantly wetter than average month for most places in the UK, except for the South East of England and the north west of Scotland.

"Some areas have had twice their normal August rainfall. Cumbria hasn't quite got to twice but it is getting there.

"Some other places have already seen more than twice their average August rainfall, so although Cumbria has been wet, it certainly hasn't been the wettest place."

The forecaster is expecting less rain this weekend though.

"This weekend things are settling down and high pressure is returning, so not much in the way of rain in the last few days of August, so the figures shouldn't really change that much.

"We obviously had Storm Dareen and Storm Francis in the middle of the month, which brought most of the rainfall with heavy downpours following the heatwave at the start of the month."

Here is the forecast for Carlisle for the bank holiday weekend:

  • Saturday - 16C - Sunny, changing to cloudy by late morning
  • Sunday - 16C - Sunny, changing to cloudy by lunchtime
  • Monday - 17C - Sunny intervals changing to overcast by lunchtime
  • Tuesday - 17C - Cloudy

Wednesday to Friday: "Dry start for many on Wednesday with sunny spells before rain, heavy in places and accompanied by strong winds, moves in from the west and spreads to eastern parts through the day.

"Confidence further ahead becomes lower but the most likely scenario will be outbreaks of rain in places and strong winds for some.

"The rain will be heaviest across the west with gales in the northwest. Southern parts will see the best of any drier weather with rain turning more showery in the north at times.

"Rain easing towards next weekend leaving a dry spell of weather for a time across the UK. Soon turning wet again however in the north and west with stronger winds here, but drier elsewhere. Temperatures around average or perhaps above in the south."