The Met Office has issued a warning for heavy rain across 39 areas in Scotland and North-West England on Saturday, July 4, 2026. While southern regions are expected to remain mostly dry, northern areas will experience cloudy, breezy conditions with outbreaks of rain.
Affected regions and rainfall intensity
According to the Met Office, the worst-hit areas will be in Scotland, particularly Fort William, which could see rainfall rates of up to 16mm/hr. In England, Cumbria and North Yorkshire are forecast to face localised downpours of up to 4mm/hr. Other areas such as the Peak District, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk may receive lighter rain, with no more than 2mm/hr expected.
The Met Office's forecast for Saturday to Monday states: "Scotland, Northern Ireland and the northwest of England will often be rather cloudy and breezy with outbreaks of rain. Mostly dry further south with some sunshine. Turning hot in places." This suggests that while the weekend starts wet in the north, conditions may improve later.
Full list of areas facing rain on Saturday
The Met Office has named 39 areas that will see rain on Saturday. These include:
- England: Cumbria, North Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk
- Scotland: Angus, Argyll, Ayrshire, Banffshire, Berwickshire, Buteshire, Caithness, Clackmannanshire, Cromartyshire, Dumfriesshire, Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, Fife, Inverness-shire, Kincardineshire, Kinross-shire, Kirkcudbrightshire, Lanarkshire, Midlothian, Moray, Nairnshire, Orkney, Peeblesshire, Perthshire, Renfrewshire, Ross and Cromarty, Roxburghshire, Selkirkshire, Shetland, Stirlingshire, Sutherland, West Lothian, Wigtownshire
Northern Ireland is also expected to be cloudy with rain, though specific areas were not listed.
Outlook for the week ahead
Following the wet Saturday, the Met Office has indicated that a heatwave could arrive next week, with temperatures potentially reaching 30°C in nine areas on Sunday. This follows recent weather maps showing volcanic red for a 39°C scorcher, though the agency has not yet confirmed extreme heat levels for the coming days.
