Met Office: 2012 was Wales' third wettest year on record

The past 12 months have been the third wettest on record in Wales, according to figures released by the Met Office.

The total rainfall for Wales during 2012 was 1,716.2mm, while the wettest year was 2000 when 1828.6mm fell.

The unseasonal weather led to flash flooding which affected hundreds of homes and businesses in north Ceredigion last June.

Hundreds of homes in St Asaph and Ruthin in Denbighshire were also hit by floods in November.

The total rainfall for the UK during 2012 was 1,330.7mm, just 6.6mm short of the record set in 2000.

The Met Office figures show that Wales had approximately 18% more rain than average last year, while Ceredigion and Flintshire had 25% more than normal.

Most areas in the UK were affected by the extreme weather, with thousands of homes flooded and farmers struggling to grow crops in the saturated soil.

The Met Office said 2012 was the wettest year in England since UK records began in 1912.

BBC Wales weather presenter Sue Charles said: "Wales actually had more rain in 2012 than England, a total of 1,716mm compared with 1,123mm.

"It's expected that Wales would be wetter because of its geography and landscape: hills, mountains and a west facing coast.

"So while Wales had a higher rainfall total, it was 18% wetter than average here, but 31% wetter than average in England."

Flood water in St Asaph, Denbighshire in November

Extreme rainfall

The latest data comes as analysis says the frequency of extreme rainfall in the UK may be increasing.

More than a month's worth of rain fell on 8 and 9 June in north Ceredigion, causing flooding which affected more than 1,000 people.

Villages including Talybont, Dol-y-bont, Penrhyncoch and Llandre were hit, as well as areas of Aberystwyth.

In July, tourism leaders warned the poor summer weather could be the final straw for some businesses in Wales, while a number of summer shows were cancelled following heavy rain.

In November, flooding hit 400 homes in St Asaph, Denbighshire, and affected more than 100 homes on the Glasdir estate in Ruthin.