London has experienced its first significant rainfall in weeks, with showers moving across the capital from 3am on Tuesday morning. The Met Office rain tracker reported up to 32mm of rain per hour falling in some areas, bringing an end to a prolonged dry spell that has left the city under a hosepipe ban.
Relief for drought-hit capital
Residents woke to puddles on streets and pavements, with many taking to social media to celebrate the sound of rain in the early hours. The rainfall comes after England recorded its driest July on record, with parts of the capital seeing no meaningful rain for nearly two months.
According to Thames Water, the north of London received zero rain during the dry period, while areas south of the river saw just 1mm. Across the Thames catchment, only 0.8mm was recorded – a mere 2% of the long-term average.
Forecast for more wet weather
Further showers are expected in the coming days, with light rain forecast for Tuesday's morning rush hour and possible showers through Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, according to BBC Weather. The Met Office has also indicated a chance of showers on those days.
The lack of rain has put unprecedented pressure on London's parks and green spaces. Earlier this month, the head of gardens at Chiswick House and Gardens warned of "scorched" conditions, while Darren Share, director of parks at the Royal Parks, said the record dry spell and consecutive heatwaves showed "it is a moment of urgency".
Risk of storms elsewhere
While London welcomes the wet weather, other parts of the UK face the risk of hail, lightning, and potential flash flooding. Most showers are expected across north-west England, Northern Ireland, and southern Scotland, with some parts of south-east England remaining dry.
