Five days of rain are set to bring Britain's fourth heatwave of the summer to a soggy end, according to BBC Weather forecasts. The wet spell follows a week in which temperatures hit the mid-30s in the south east and the government declared half of England a drought zone.
The BBC forecast shows rain arriving in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, north west England, north east England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the Midlands on Monday. Tuesday is expected to bring precipitation to the south west of England, south east and London, and East Anglia.
Met Office predicts changeable week
The Met Office also expects a wet week, with its long-range forecast for Tuesday, August 4, to Thursday, August 13, saying: "A generally rather changeable period looks likely, with many places likely to see some much-needed rain or showers at times but also some more sunshine." The forecast adds that after a drier, brighter few days, further unsettled conditions may develop, perhaps more likely towards the southern parts of the UK, before further spells of dry, warm, sunny weather and cooler, wetter and breezier weather arrive towards mid-August.
Met Office weather maps covering until Tuesday evening show rain first hitting Northern Ireland and Wales late on Sunday evening, August 2. A band of rain then spreads north-eastwards towards the Midlands, the north of England and Scotland as Monday progresses.
The heaviest rain on Monday, August 3, is predicted in the Scottish borders, with 16-32mm of rain expected near Kendoon Loch. Heavy rain is also expected in Glasgow.
Torrential rain in Devon and Cornwall
Tuesday is set to be even wetter. The south east of England and London will see some much-needed rain in the early hours, but torrential downpours are forecast across Devon and Cornwall. More than 32mm of rain is expected to hit the south west early on Tuesday morning, with seaside towns St Ives, Newquay and Bude bearing the brunt. Dartmoor is also expected to see similar downpours.
The BBC Weather forecast then predicts rain will continue for four more days, including London. It is expected to be particularly wet in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Rain brings relief to drought-hit England
The rain will be a welcome relief for millions of people living in drought conditions. Half of England is now a drought zone, with seven regions named as suffering "flash drought" on Wednesday, July 29, after Brits saw only 7 percent of the typical rainfall for July.
The seven regions are East Anglia; Hertfordshire and the whole of London; Thames Valley; Hampshire and the Isle of Wight; Devon and Cornwall; West Midlands; and Wessex, covering Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and south Gloucestershire.
A further six English regions are in "prolonged dry weather", the stage before drought: Kent and East Sussex; Cumbria and Lancashire; Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire; East Midlands; Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire; and the rest of Solent and the South Downs.
Only Yorkshire and the north east are not expected to dry up in England.
