Wetter-Than-Average Summer for British Isles

Another round of rain and wind is pushing through the United Kingdom,prompting the U.K. Meteorology Office to issue flood alerts for some rivers,including the Kent, Eden and Cocker early today. Like the northeastern UnitedStates, the United Kingdom has experienced an usually wet, cool summer. Irelandand Scotland have also been unusually wet. Rainfall in Belfast is currently8.09 inches above the summertime average. Glasgow has received 6.01 inchesabove its summertime average.The cause for the wet weather this summer has been a stronger-than-average jetstream over the British Isles. In a typical summer, the jet stream willoscillate north to south and remain on the weaker side. This year, the jetstream has not oscillated as much, remaining over the United Kingdom for daysat a time. This week is a good example, as the jet stream brings a third lowpressure system in as many days to the British Isles.

The poor weather seems to have affected even online shopping. In a studyreleased by retail research group IMRG Capgemini, total online sales rose by15.7% in July compared with June. The online clothes retailers had the largestgrowth in sales, while alcohol demand fell. This is likely due to the fact thatmany summer barbecues and activities were canceled.