Sun-drenched surfers flock to weather sites

The BBC Weather website is taking just under 50 per cent of all weather-related web hits

The BBC Weather website is experiencing unprecedented popularity, as the heatwave brings internet users flocking to check the forecast. 

The BBC site dominates the latest survey from internet analysts Hitwise, taking just under 50 per cent of all weather-related web hits. 

Trailing far behind, with 10.5 per cent of visitors, was the Met Office, followed by The Weather Channel (US) at nine per cent, The Weather Channel (UK) at 8.5 per cent, and Yahoo UK & Ireland Weather at 3.8 per cent. 

Visits to weather websites have doubled in the past week, capturing one per cent of all UK internet visits.

Analysis of search terms reveals that the BBC Weather Centre and Met Office sites are used mainly for finding out UK temperatures, while The Weather Channel is used to find temperatures abroad, in particular Switzerland, Marbella and Tunisia.