London is expected to receive rainfall over several days starting next week, as one of the hottest and driest summers on record draws to a close. Multiple forecasters are predicting wet conditions, which could help replenish the capital's parched green spaces.
England experienced its driest July on record, with no meaningful rain in London. According to Thames Water, the north of the capital saw zero rain, while areas south of the river received just 1mm. Across the Thames catchment area, only 0.8mm of rain was recorded – a mere 2% of the long-term average.
Hosepipe Ban and Parched Parks
The “flash drought” has left millions in London under a hosepipe ban as reservoir levels drop, while turning the capital’s green spaces yellow and brown. A large section of a pond in Wanstead Park, east London, has dried up as drought conditions persist.
This weekend, London is cooling off from its fifth heatwave of 2026, a summer characterised not only by drought but also record heat and wildfires. Saturday saw temperatures drop markedly to a maximum of 26C after highs of 38C and 34C on Thursday and Friday. Overcast conditions are expected to keep a lid on the heat on Sunday, with the Met Office forecasting a maximum of 26C. Temperatures are expected to gradually reduce through the week to around 22C on Friday, according to BBC Weather.
Rain Forecast for Next Week
On Sunday morning, Accuweather was predicting a 25%-61% chance of rainfall each day from Monday to Friday in London. Looking to the weekend, BBC Weather forecasts up to a 46% chance of rain on Saturday, August 23. The following week looks more likely to be wet, with the chance of rain estimated at up to 64% on Tuesday, August 25 and 69% on Wednesday, August 26.
The lack of rain this summer has put unprecedented pressure on London’s cherished parks and beauty spots. Last week, the head of gardens at Chiswick House and Gardens warned of “scorched” conditions. She said: “The reality is that our ability as gardeners to minimise the negative effects, particularly on our 1,800 trees, is quite limited. My role now is to plan intelligently and make the right informed decisions for the next 300 years, gathering as much advice and resources as I can to do so.”
Wildfire Crisis and Response
Darren Share, director of parks at the Royal Parks, said the driest July on record and consecutive heatwaves showed it “is a moment of urgency”. On Saturday, the Prince of Wales thanked emergency services battling wildfires across Britain. He said: "Our thoughts are with everyone affected, particularly those who have lost their homes, and with those working tirelessly to protect communities, homes and the countryside."
It came after West Midlands Fire Service declared a major incident on Thursday as a wildfire spread across more than 500 acres and destroyed 19 homes in Stourbridge. It was one of several blazes to ravage through the UK this week as temperatures soared and the hottest day of the year was recorded. On Friday evening, millions of people in England and Wales received an alert on their mobile devices warning them of a “very high risk of wildfires nationally”. Earlier, Prime Minister Andy Burnham described Britain as a “tinderbox” and a temporary ban on disposable barbecues was put in place.
