The reign of King Charles has so far been the soggiest on record and rainier than any of his predecessors, according to UK scientists.

The eighteen months since the King ascended to the throne have been the wettest on record since 1836 for England, Professor Ed Hawkins of Reading University revealed yesterday.

Analysis of Met Office records shows the Carolean age has also been considerably damper than both Elizabethan and Victorian times, according to analysis by the National Centre for Atmospheric Science.

“Winters have been getting steadily wetter over the last century,” and the past 18 months have been the wettest on record for England. Coincidentally, this has been the exact 18 months since the passing of Queen Elizabeth the Second."

"The atmosphere is warmer now than a century ago, and so has more water in it. This means when you get really heavy downpours there’s more water to come out. So, when it rains, it rains more,” Professor Ed Hawkins, climate scientist in the university’s meteorology department says.

While rainfall trends vary - with February 2023 - being the driest for 30 years, long term the changes are more obvious, he said.

“Rainfall over the UK is always very variable and always has been,” Professor Hawkins adds. “And, although we can still expect to get some dry periods the overall trend under King Charles is likely to be towards us having more rain.”

There was also some variation nationwide, he added: “The accepted wisdom is the UK is getting wetter winters and slightly drier summers – and that’s what we are seeing in the South – but we are probably seeing slightly wetter summers in the North."

The Queen died on September 8, 2022 - just over 18 months ago - when Charles became King.

The following year millions watched the King's Coronation during a rainy Bank holiday weekend in May.

However, scientists warn that this doesn't mean the end of dry spells, droughts and water shortages, which are expected to continue, particularly in summer, as weather patterns become more pronounced.

Official rainfall records date back to 1836, the year before Queen Victoria ascended to the throne.

UK average rainfall in a typical year

Queen Victoria’s reign (1837-1901) 1025mm

King Edward VII, King George V, and King George VI (1902-1952) 1073mm

Queen Elizabeth’s reign (1953-2022) 1117mm

King Charles reign* (2022-24) 1290 mm

*Total rainfall for the 2023 calendar year.

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