Weather experts believe this year could be another record breaker.

According to forecasters, we should be preparing for some of the highest temperatures on record.

As we sit here shivering and cursing the long winter evenings, it is appealing to dream about bikinis and blue skies, steamy nights and days at the beach.

But hotter summers can also come with the misery of wetter winters.

Scientists tell us the world is warming up and, in recent years, records for both rain and sun have been broken.

Last year was the third warmest year worldwide since records began in 1861, with the global average surface temperature estimated to be 0.45C above the long-term average. All of the ten warmest years have occurred since 1990.

Average global temperatures have risen by about 0.7C in the past 100 years and research shows the warming in the past 50 has mainly been due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels.

Brighton and Hove last year was, once again, getting warmer.

It was also the driest since 1973, with a total of 23.25in falling on the city in 116 days, according to Ken Woodhams, The Argus' weatherman .

The total amount of rain was 7.5in below the long-term average, which was in contrast to the previous six years, which had all been above normal.

The wettest month was November, when 4.24in fell, and the wettest day was December 27, when 1.79in was measured.

The longest spell without rain was 28 days between July 30 to August 26. This was the longest dry spell since 1997.

And the overall average temperature for the year in the city was 11.6C (52.9F), which was 0.7C above the long-term yearly average.

The temperature has been above normal for the past seven years. In 1996, the temperature was below average, but the eight years before that were all warmer than usual.

The hottest day of the year was August 5, when temperatures soared to 32C (89F). The warmest month was August, with an overall temperature 2.3C (4.2F) above the long-term average.

The coldest month was January, which was the chilliest overall since 1997.

In Sussex we are already getting used to downpours in the autumn and drier summers as our climate gradually changes.

Plants are blooming up to two months earlier in the spring than they did 50 years ago and if the changes continue as predicted, our climate on the South Coast could be similar to that of the Mediterranean by 2150.

But the warmer climate also means less predicable weather - and the fear more flooding. In October 2000 the flooding in the Lewes and Uckfield areas caused misery and devastation.

That year will be remembered for being the wettest in England since 1766.

But people living near rivers have been forced to become used to flood warnings.

This time last year Sussex was again warned to expect widespread flooding after heavy rain.

Floods are caused by very heavy rain occurring in short bursts but, between torrential downpours, less rain is falling.

Between January and October last year our region received only 68 per cent of the usual amount of rainfall.

It would need to rain in the South-East on an average two days out of three until the spring to make up for the shortfall.

While people living near the county's most vulnerable rivers are being warned to remain on guard, water companies have refused to rule out a summer hosepipe ban this year.

Wet or dry, scientists at the Met Office use the latest technology to predict the weather in the year to come.

Computer models combined with detailed measurements of sea temperatures are forecasting a warm year ahead.

Met Office spokeswoman Sancha Tetlow said: "We are predicting it will be a very warm year."

Despite record-breaking temperatures last summer, when Britain's hottest day was recorded, the year was only the fifth warmest in England since records started in 1659.

But in the coming year the experts forecast temperatures could increase by 0.5C above the past average, which would mean 2004 being the second warmest year on record.

And forecasters predict there is a 20 per cent probability this year will reach or pass the temperatures of 1998, the warmest year yet.

But Ms Tetlow stressed the prediction was only just that - and added a word of caution for people who are already looking forward to a sizzling summer.

She said the measurements and statistics showed there could be a warm summer - but forecasts could not be guaranteed.

Our weather, she said, was affected by being on the cusp of two different weather systems: The polar maritime, which causes cold weather from the north; and warmer weather sweeping across from the European continent.

Because of our global position our weather would always be variable.

She said: "You cannot say specifically if you are going to have a record-breaking summer like last year. The statistics just give a hint."

Mr Woodhams, who measures the rain and temperature at his weather station at his home in Hove, agrees.

He believes it is impossible to forecast the weather for the year ahead, whether you use computers or folklore, such as seaweed or pine cones.

Mr Woodhams, who has been monitoring the weather for about 50 years, said: "The tendency over the years is for the weather to be warmer and that is the only thing you can say."

Old countryside tales of forecasting, such as looking at the colour of the sky at dawn or dusk, watching which berries birds collect or observing if there is a heavy crop of acorns in order to predict a bad winter, could not be counted on.

He said: "There are certain indications in nature but they are only short-term and are no good for looking into the months ahead.

"I never give predictions because I don't pretend to know. I am a weather recorder and if the present weather follows the same pattern it will be a warmer year than the average year. I will go that far."

When informed the Met Office had forecast 2004 could be as warm as or surpass the warmest year on record, he replied: "They are sticking their necks out. We will just have to wait and see."

The weather in Sussex last month was wetter and warmer than average for December, according to Mr Woodhams.

He recorded 3.98in of rain on 14 days, which made the month the second wettest of the year.

The dampest day was on December 27, when 1.79in fell. It was the wettest day since October 11, 2000.

The total rainfall over the month was half an inch above the long-term average for December.

The month was slightly warmer than normal with an overall temperature of 6.5C (43.8F).

Monday January 05, 2004