Londoners have been rejoicing after the first drops of rain fell in the capital in weeks. The city had been experiencing its longest dry spell in years, with a fourth heatwave of the summer and an official drought status in parts of England.
Details of the Rainfall
According to the Met Office's rain tracker map, the rainfall began over the southwest of the capital at around 5:30pm on Thursday evening before drifting south. However, most areas saw very small amounts, with the majority experiencing less than 0.5mm per hour. Some reports of showers came from Croydon and Richmond.
The last proper downpour in London was on June 27, with only a small flurry on July 5. The city is under a hosepipe ban imposed by Thames Water due to the prolonged dry conditions.
Reactions and Outlook
Despite the modest precipitation, people took to social media to celebrate, often with a touch of irony over how little fell. There is a chance of further rainfall in the coming hours and into the early hours of Friday, before dry weather returns until the middle of next week, when light rain showers are expected daily for most of the rest of the week.
