The UK has endured another day of temperatures above 34C as the drought crisis worsens, with another region of England now under a hosepipe ban. The Met Office says July was the driest month for 190 years, with several counties recording less than 1mm of rain across the whole month.
More than half of England and Wales are in drought, with an 'exceptional combination of extreme heat, abundant sunshine and an almost complete absence of rainfall in some areas'.
Monday's outlook
The Met Office's latest forecast gives little chance of rain on Monday, particularly in southern England, where conditions will be 'largely dry' with 'sunny spells and feeling very hot'. The north west of England and Scotland are most likely to see some rain.
Overnight, there will be 'a few isolated thunderstorms', but it will otherwise be a 'largely dry and warm night' apart from scattered rain.
When rain is expected
Tuesday may finally bring some relief, mostly in the north of England. The Met Office's Tuesday forecast says: "Outbreaks of heavy rain in the north today with a risk of thunder. Scattered showers in the south with the odd thunderstorm. Very warm and humid. Windy in the north."
Between Wednesday and Friday, some rain could reach the south, but it will turn drier again from Thursday. The Met Office adds: "Rather unsettled in the north over the next few days with rain or showers. Some showers in the south at first, but turning drier from Thursday."
Longer-term outlook
For the longer term, the Met Office says the period between Friday, August 7 and Sunday, August 16 could be 'rather changeable', with some rain or showers at times but also 'decent drier interludes'. Towards mid-August, high pressure may become more dominant in the north of the UK, with lower pressure further south, increasing the chance of Atlantic frontal systems or thundery interludes affecting southern areas compared with recent weeks. Rainfall amounts could still be variable, with some areas seeing relatively little.
Temperatures look to remain above average, especially in the south, though perhaps without the exceptional heat seen in recent weeks.
Why July was so dry
Met Office scientist Dr Emily Carlisle said: "The headline story for July is undoubtedly the rainfall. Across parts of England and Wales we've seen extraordinarily low totals, with some locations recording little or no meaningful rainfall for much of the month. Provisional figures suggest this could be one of the driest Julys in nearly two centuries of records, which is particularly notable when coupled with the exceptional heat experienced so far this summer."
