For two weeks of the summer, the weather forecast for SW19 becomes one of the most important in the UK.

Whether you are visiting the Championships at Wimbledon, watching them on television or simply interested in how they have been affected by the weather in the past, BBC Weather has all the Wimbledon weather information you need.

Weather links
5 day forecast for Wimbledon
London - Average Conditions
UK weather summary | Pollen index

Features
Why is the weather so unpredictable?
Weather statistics | Wimbledon 2003
The Wimbledon forecasters
Weather and tennis | Wet weather policy

Other links
BBC Sport - Wimbledon
Wimbledon Championships - Official Site
BBC Weather - Sun Know How
BBC Health - Heat Stroke | Prickly Heat
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Why is the weather so unpredictable?
Wimbledon is associated with long summer days, when we finally see fine dry weather. The average daily maximum for June is 20°C, with a monthly average of 45mm rain falling. So why are we so still surprised when rain stops play?

BBC Broadcast Meteorologist Rob McElwee says that June has never been a reliable summer month. "The polar front is responsible for bringing frontal systems and connected unsettled weather to the UK. In June, the ground and oceans are not warm enough to move the polar front reliably north and so allow the Azores high to stretch north over the UK, which would bring fine dry weather. This is why on average the weather in June is not reliably sunny, dry and warm."

So rain delays really should be something we expect - anyway if you are watching the matches on television at home it gives you a chance to dash into the kitchen to stock up the supplies!

Wimbledon weather statistics

Years when play extended into a third week 1919, 1922, 1925, 1927, 1930, 1963, 1972, 1973, 1982, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001.

Years with no rain! 1931, 1976, 1977, 1993, 1995

Other notable years 1949 - brilliant sunshine for the whole championship 1955 - a tremendous downpour flooded the tunnels adjacent to Centre Court 1976 - the hottest on record 1985 - a spectacular storm saw over an inch of rain falling in 20 minutes 1991 - probably the wettest first week ever - after 4 days only 52 of 240 matches were completed!

Wimbledon 2003
Once again play was delayed and matches in the 2003 tournament stopped part way through due to heavy rain in south-west London.

Although Wimbledon wouldn't be the same without a spot of rain, the psychological test of keeping focussed during the delays can challenge even the top players. Many times matches have turned, as one player returns revitalised after a rain break.

The 2003 women's semi-final between Kim Clijsters and Venus Williams did not start off well, especially for Venus. However the rain break helped Venus to get some treatment and win the match.

Generally, conditions in Wimbledon 2003 were mostly warm and sunny in the first week followed by a considerable amount of rain in the middle of the second week.

The Wimbledon forecasters
The London Weather Centre provide the official forecasts for the Championships. They produce three forecasts a day, although monitor the conditions around the clock.

It is a very intensive service to provide and one that is taken very seriously. The Duty Forecasters says that it is almost a case of watching each pixel on their radar to ensure that they give as much advance warning as possible of rain approaching the SW19 area!

However, the forecasters only advise on the weather - the decision of what to do about it is then up to the referees!

Wet weather policy
The Referee decides when a court is covered to protect it from the rain. The sooner a court is covered, the sooner play can resume again once the rain has stopped as the court will take less time to dry.

Once the rain is stopped, play is resumed as quickly as possible, although players are officially entitled to 15 minutes from when the match is called until they are due on court. They are then allowed time to warm up depending on how long the game was delayed.