After the UK experienced its hottest June on record, rain is set to return this weekend. The Met Office has named 15 areas most likely to see wet weather on Saturday, June 27, as forecast maps show bands of rain sweeping across parts of the country.
Rain to Arrive from the South West
The latest weather charts, generated on June 25, indicate that rain will push in from the south west at the start of Saturday, bringing outbreaks of wet weather to parts of Wales, south-west England, Northern Ireland and western Scotland before spreading further inland through the morning. At around 4am, a broad area of rain stretching north-south across western parts of the UK is expected. Areas around Plymouth, Cardiff, Belfast and Glasgow appear most likely to see persistent rainfall during the early hours, while heavier bursts are also forecast across parts of western Scotland and the Hebrides.
As the day progresses, the rain is expected to become more fragmented. By late morning, much of England and Wales is shown under largely dry conditions, with only scattered showers affecting parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and western coastal areas.
Temperature Outlook for Saturday
At 10am, temperatures are predicted to peak at 25C in London, with Manchester facing 22C and Cardiff 21C. Northern Ireland and Scotland are set to see temperatures in the mid to high teens, according to the latest Met Office projections.
Evening Weather Deteriorates
However, the dry spell is expected to be short-lived. Forecast charts for 7pm on Saturday show a fresh Atlantic weather system approaching from the west. A large and increasingly organised band of rain can be seen advancing towards Ireland and western Britain, signalling deteriorating conditions later in the day. The rain is forecast to extend from western Scotland southwards through Northern Ireland and into the Irish Sea, before edging eastwards overnight. By late Saturday and into the early hours of Sunday, the wet weather is expected to spread across parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and western England.
15 Areas Most Likely to See Rain on Saturday
- Cornwall
- Devon
- Somerset
- Pembrokeshire
- Ceredigion
- Gwynedd
- County Antrim
- County Down
- County Londonderry
- Argyll and Bute
- Highland
- Western Isles
- Glasgow
- Ayrshire
- Dumfries and Galloway
Hottest June on Record Precedes Rain
The return of rain follows an extraordinary spell of heat that saw temperatures soar across the UK this week. On June 24 and June 25, the Met Office issued rare red extreme heat warnings covering large parts of England and Wales, warning that the exceptional heat could have widespread impacts on health, transport and infrastructure. Areas including London, the South East, South West, East of England, West Midlands and parts of Wales were placed under the highest level of alert. The heatwave brought the highest June temperatures ever recorded in the UK, with temperatures hitting 36.1C in Gosport, Hampshire, with several other locations also hitting longstanding June records. Schools altered schedules, rail operators warned of disruptions and health officials urged vulnerable people to take extra precautions amid unusually intense conditions.
