The Met Office has warned that parts of the UK could experience flooding as heavy rainfall is set to hit drought-stricken land after weeks of extreme heat. Some areas will see the "first meaningful rain for a long time" in the coming days, following heatwaves and dry weather that have left many areas facing water shortages.
Hosepipe ban for Wessex Water customers
From Tuesday, all of Wessex Water's 1.4 million customers across Bath, Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire face hosepipe restrictions. It is the first ban the company has put in place for 50 years, since the summer of 1976. Announcing the temporary restriction, the company cited increased demand during the dry weather and longer-term weather forecasts that mean resources must be protected for customers and the environment.
More than 27 million people across England have now had hosepipe use restricted in their area.
Rain forecast and flood risk
Following the fifth heatwave of the summer, this week is forecast to be wetter with cooler conditions that are much closer to average for the time of year, the Met Office said. Showers are expected on Tuesday in the north of the country, particularly in the North West, and another area of rain will move into the South West by the evening, according to the Met Office's deputy chief forecaster Mike Silverstone. This will then likely spread east across the South, bringing the first spell of widespread rain to areas in need the most, he added.
"Thursday will be a day of heavy showers across much of the UK, while some of these will be heavy some areas will miss them altogether," Mr Silverstone said. "As some of these showers could be intense, there is a chance of some surface water flooding as the rain falls on very dry and hard ground."
By Friday, conditions are expected to turn drier once again through the weekend before more rain is forecast next week.
Relief for wildfires but drought persists
The change comes after the UK's fifth heatwave of the summer, during which the hottest day of the year was recorded in Kew Gardens, London, on Thursday when temperatures reached 38.1C. The forecast rain may bring some welcome relief to parched land and fire-fighters tackling wildfires. In an update on Monday, the National Fire Chiefs Council said 1,132 wildfires have now been recorded across England and Wales in 2026 so far – a record high for the amount between January and this time of year.
While the forecast rain may bring some welcome relief to parched land and fire-fighters tackling wildfires, the widespread drought conditions are likely to remain, putting severe pressure on wildlife, farmers, transport, emergency services, infrastructure and water resources.
