Weather maps from WXCharts and the Met Office indicate that heavy rain will sweep across large parts of the UK this week, bringing an abrupt end to the recent heatwave. Temperatures, which exceeded 38C in some areas, are set to drop significantly, with 18C or 19C expected on Wednesday.
Rain to End Heatwave and Drought
The downpours will bring relief to parched grasslands and areas under hosepipe bans, as the rain moves eastwards in the coming days. The hottest day of the year so far was recorded on Thursday in Kew, southwest London, where temperatures reached 38C.
The heaviest rain is anticipated on Thursday, with parts of the Midlands and East of England expecting thundery downpours. The Met Office has said conditions will be "increasingly unsettled" likely until the end of the month.
Met Office Forecast and Social Media Alert
The Met Office's short-term forecast reads: "Conditions look like turning increasingly unsettled through next week, as low pressure gradually becomes dominant, squeezing the ridge off to the northeast and southwest. Most places are likely to see some rain or showers, which may be heavy with a risk of thunder at times. It may become breezy if not windy at times, too. Temperatures are likely to be near or a little below normal overall, with some chilly nights at first, but brief warm, humid spells are possible at times, especially in the south."
In an Instagram post, the Met Office shared a map of the UK depicting rain sweeping across the country. The post reads: "It's a changeable week ahead with rain in the forecast but how much rain will your local area experience this week? Many places that have largely missed out on rain recently are likely to see some wet weather this week. Expect outbreaks of rain, with a risk of thunder and some intense downpours mixed in."
Full List of 47 Areas to Face Heavy Rain
England:
- Northumberland
- Cumbria
- Tyne & Wear
- Lancashire
- North Yorkshire
- West Yorkshire
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- Greater Manchester
- Merseyside
Northern Ireland:
- County Antrim
- County Armagh
- County Down
- County Derry
- County Tyrone
Scotland:
- Orkney
- Caithness
- Sutherland
- Ross and Cromarty
- Inverness-shire
- Nairnshire
- Moray (Elginshire)
- Banffshire
- Aberdeenshire
- Kincardineshire
- Perthshire
- Angus (Forfarshire)
- Argyll
- Fife
- Clackmannanshire
- Kinross-shire
- Stirlingshire
- Dunbartonshire
- Bute (Buteshire)
- Renfrewshire
- Lanarkshire
- West Lothian (Linlithgowshire)
- Midlothian (Edinburghshire)
- East Lothian (Haddingtonshire)
- Ayrshire
- Peeblesshire
- Selkirkshire
- Berwickshire
- Roxburghshire
- Dumfriesshire
- Kirkcudbrightshire
- Wigtownshire
Wales:
- Isle of Anglesey
- Gsynedd
- Conway
The rain is expected to bring an end to the heatwave and provide much-needed relief to drought-affected areas, though the changeable conditions are likely to persist until the end of the month.
