Summer Solstice 2016, First Official Day Of British Summer, Arrives With A Complete Downpour Of Rain

Yes that rain really does signify the start of warm season. Enjoy.
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Hurrah, it's here! The Great British Summer!

The first official day of summer time in the UK is 20 June - and boy, have we enjoyed some scorching weather.

Oh wait.

Many areas around the country faced downpours on Monday, despite it being the Summer Solstice - which is also the longest day of the year.

Summer time has officially started in Britain today. Here's the glorious view from my office....... pic.twitter.com/lwEeifwJGL

— Dr Hamed Khan (@drhamedkhan) June 20, 2016

First day of #summer and its raining. pic.twitter.com/u2ZFX0fYE2

— Cat Storey (@CatJStorey) June 20, 2016

Here we are 20 mins from Glasto site, and the rain is relentless. Bring boots, Gazebos, Capstan non-filters etc pic.twitter.com/b4h3aax8N6

— John Harris (@johnharris1969) June 20, 2016

"First day of summer!" he exclaimed, as the rain submerged him into the dark floods of an eternal British winter

— Count Snooku (@QueerDiscOx) June 20, 2016

It's time to celebrate the first day of summer! Doesn't it feel like it?! https://t.co/Bqa0POl1tK #summersolstice pic.twitter.com/hX60yAIcnf

— Tatler (@TatlerUK) June 20, 2016

Celebrating the 1st day of British Summer Time by putting on a jumper, making a hot drink & watching the rain hammer down outside

— Freyja (@FeatheredFreyja) June 20, 2016

Oh Facebook. You have a lot to learn about British summer time. pic.twitter.com/9mqocNti7l

— Matt Navarra ⭐️ (@MattNavarra) June 20, 2016

Nothing says British summer like the dank stench of wet cloth and frustrated sadness on the morning commute.

— Stig Abell (@StigAbell) June 20, 2016

Monday marks the Summer Solstice - the longest day of the year and the celestial transition point between the seasons.

Thousands of people will make their way to Stonehenge in Wiltshire to mark the occasion, which also coincides with a Strawberry Moon.

If the clouds give way, stargazers could also catch a glimpse of the rare phenomenon on Monday night.

A Strawberry Moon - a full moon which marks the start of the strawberry season - has not coincided with the Summer Solstice for almost 50 years.

But if you're depressed about the weather here in the UK, then at least you can take a look at these pictures of the first day of WINTER in Australia...

Yes, that's the England men's rugby team on Sydney's Coogee Beach
Yes, that's the England men's rugby team on Sydney's Coogee Beach
David Rogers via Getty Images

A photo posted by @yasmine.zay on

Winter in Australia and it's been sunny all day. LOL @ England

— ICJ Red (@LeeHoll90) June 20, 2016

According to the Press Association, Simon Partridge, forecaster at the Met Office, said that it's not unusual for the UK to be facing weather as horrendous as the current rain.

He said: “It’s a very wet start but it’s not unusual to get a weather front coming across the UK at this time of year.

“It will brighten up through this afternoon and this evening, which should give us a few clear spells which should give a chance to do some moon-gazing.”

But he warned there is a “a good chance” of patchy cloud around Stonehenge despite 17 hours of daylight which may infringe on the view.

Temperatures will be 18C (64.4F) or 19C (66.2F) on Monday - normal for this time of year - with some “decent sunny spells”, Partridge added.

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