The Met Office has identified 11 areas in the UK expecting wet conditions, concentrated primarily in northern and western Scotland alongside Northern Ireland, where patchy rain and drizzle will move in. The downpour is expected within hours, according to weather maps released on July 21, 2026.
Affected Regions and Forecast Details
Specific locations facing wet weather include the Highlands, Western Isles, Orkney, Shetland, Argyll and Bute, and all six counties in Northern Ireland, based on recent Met Office maps. Forecasters emphasise that the precipitation will be light and sporadic rather than persistent downpours, with shelter and dry periods between brief outbreaks of light rain.
Temperature Impacts
Heavy cloud cover associated with unsettled weather across northern and northwestern Scotland will keep temperatures considerably lower, limiting highs to the mid-teens. In contrast, high pressure positioned to the west keeps the majority of England and Wales dry, sunny, and settled, enjoying very warm weather reaching peak highs between 25C and 26C.
According to the Met Office, the rain will be light and patchy, not a heavy summer downpour. The dry and warm conditions in England and Wales are expected to continue, with temperatures possibly surging to 37C in some areas in the coming days, with nine counties predicted to exceed 35C.
