The Met Office has identified 18 areas likely to be hit by heavy rain on Friday, July 31, as temperatures drop after the fourth heatwave of the year. The most affected regions are Northern Ireland, Scotland, and the north east of England.
The forecaster said the weather this week is "turning fresh, with showers in the north" while remaining "drier further south." The outlook from Friday to Sunday reads: "Friday and the weekend will hold onto a fresher feel. There will be a lot of dry weather with some sunny spells, though one or two showers are also possible."
Heatwave and Drought Conditions
This forecast follows a heatwave that peaked on Wednesday, with temperatures soaring to 35C. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued an amber heat-health alert covering the East Midlands, the East, South East and London, in place until Thursday.
Half of England is now officially in drought following record low rain and high temperatures, the Environment Agency has said. Drought was formally declared in seven areas of central, eastern and southern England on Wednesday, including East Anglia, Hertfordshire, London, Thames Valley, Hampshire & the Isle of Wight, Devon & Cornwall, West Midlands, and Wessex (covering Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, and south Gloucestershire).
July saw just 7% of the expected levels of rainfall, with just 1% across southern England. Helen Wakeham, director of water at the Environment Agency and chair of the National Drought Group, said: "The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it. A second consecutive summer drought is an exceptionally serious situation and one that will have long-lasting impacts on our environment, wildlife, and the economy. We want everyone to stay safe and hydrated during the hot weather but every drop we can save is a drop more for nature and agriculture."
Temperature Drop and Full List of Areas
This week, temperatures are set to plummet. A chill is expected to spread across much of the country on Sunday morning, with 204 council areas in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland seeing temperatures drop into single-figures Celsius.
The 18 areas likely to be hit by heavy rain on Friday are:
- Northern Ireland: Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Derry, Tyrone
- Scotland: Highland, Moray, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Perth and Kinross, Glasgow, Falkirk
- England: Northumberland, Durham, Tyne and Wear, North Yorkshire
