Expect A Warmer Summer -- But No Floods UK: April 4, 2008 LONDON - This summer is expected to be warmer and perhaps slightly wetter than average but with little chance of a repeat of last year's devastating floods, the Met Office said on Thursday. "It looks like being a typical British summer," a spokesman said. "The risk of exceptional rainfall on the same scale as the summer of last year remains a very low probability." Large swathes of western and northern England were inundated last summer by the worst floods in 60 years, which caused some three billion pounds worth of damage. Insurers warned they might not be able to provide cover in flood-prone areas unless defences are strengthened. Head of Forecasting at the Met Office, Brian Golding, said: "Seasonal forecasting is a difficult thing to do and this places some limitations on our forecasts. "Our predictions for last autumn, winter and spring have all given accurate advice, giving more confidence in our latest summer forecast." The long range prediction comes as forecasters are warning that a return to wintry weather is likely this weekend with snow sleet and hail all expected in northern areas on Sunday. Temperatures are likely to remain low for the first part of next week. "Winter is reluctant to let go at the moment," said a Met Office spokesman. (Reporting by Stephen Addison; Editing by Tim Castle) REUTERS NEWS SERVICE