Sunderland Echo: Short, sharp downpours could become an increasingly unwanted characteristic of the British summer if the effects of global warming are to continue, experts have warned. A landmark study by the Met Office and Newcastle University has identified how climate change could result in heavier summer rainfall, which in turn could increase the risk of flash flooding. The study, published in the Nature and Climate Change journal, said: " Short duration rain events are predicted to intensify during the summer...