Driest November for 48 years

It seemed a typically miserable November. Weekends were rain-soaked and temperatures seemed to plummet. But forecasters revealed today that it was the driest November since 1956.

Just 46.1 millimetres of rain fell, half the expected amount. A Met spokesman said: "It was a really unusual month. As a national average we only got 50 per cent of the expected rain, and in the South-East just 45 per cent." Forecasters say the reason for the dry spell was a lack of wind.

"Normally south-westerly winds are about at this time of year and they bring in moisture from the ocean. But this year the wind was mainly from the north and east. It's something we call an inactive weather system," the spokesman said.

"It took people by surprise as, thinking back, it has not seemed particularly drier than normal. But it has just crept up on us.

"I think the key was the mildness. We had two-thirds of the sunshine we would expect but it was 1.5 degrees above average temperature, and very dry - a dull month."

It is believed the dry spell has also contributed to the unusually colourful autumn, with London's parks turning gold.

John Fearn, of the Royal Parks, said staff had used the dry weather to get a head start on their preparations for winter.

"Luckily, trees were not affected too badly by the dry spell - by November they are shutting down for winter anyway, and the wet summer meant they had more than enough rain," he said.

"We have actually found it really useful for getting work done in the parks - we are well ahead with our winter preparations already."

Sadly, the dry spell is set to end. This month should bring us back to the traditional cold and rain of a British winter.

"It looks like a return to rain is on the cards in early December," said the Met Office spokesman. However, he refused to comment on the prospects of a white Christmas.

"We are currently running our longer-term predictions for December but we are certainly not making any bets on whether it will be a white Christmas yet - it's just too early.

"We have seen several other forecasters make predictions for winter weather that have been very wrong already."