The Met Office has forecast rain across 107 areas of the UK on Wednesday, August 19, as a band of showers moves from Scotland to the south of England, bringing much-needed precipitation to drought-stricken regions.
Morning showers across Scotland and the south
Early on Wednesday, downpours are expected to hit Scotland, with rain arriving from the west at 1am. By 4am, a thick band of rain is forecast to span the south coast of England from Bournemouth to Brighton, with scattered showers also affecting areas such as Brockenhurst and Margate.
As the morning progresses, the rain is expected to spread further north, with Liverpool and Southport anticipating light rain at 7am.
Afternoon downpours and evening spread
By midday, a band of rain is forecast to come in from the South West, with Plymouth, Okehampton and Taunton all expecting light showers. This rain is then expected to travel east along the coast, with heavier downpours forecast in Portsmouth, Brighton and Eastbourne at 4pm – rainfall that will be much needed for areas currently in drought.
By 7pm, the band of rain is expected to reach Dover, while further downpours are also forecast in the North West, including Manchester, Huddersfield and Burnley. By 10pm, most of the rain is expected to have cleared from the south, but showers are likely to continue in the north.
Context and full list of affected areas
The wet conditions are forecast as the UK cools after experiencing its fifth heatwave of the year. Last Thursday, the hottest day of the year was recorded, with temperatures hitting 38.1C at Kew Gardens in London.
All areas forecast rain: Bude, Holsworthy, Moretonhampstead, Totnes, St Just, Tiverton, Chard, Brockenhurst, Maidstone, Margate, High Bentham, Sanquhar, Douglas, Peebles, Rothesay, Inveraray, Fasnacloich, Loch Rannoch, Fort William, Fionnphort, Tobermory, Lochaline, Pennyghael, Craig, Letterewe, Ullapool, Loch Glascarnoch, Cassley, Laxford Bridge, Dalganachan, Dalwhinnie, Ellon, Fraserburgh, Bodmin, Weymouth, Bournemouth, Chichester, Brighton, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Tenterden, Harrogate, Kendal, Leyburn, Larkhall, Cumbernauld, Bathgate, Strathyre, Tarbert, Ballochroy, Campbeltown, Inverailort, Fort Augustus, Liverpool, Southport, Skipton, Hawes, Cumnock, Ayr, Helensburgh, Ambleside, Barnard Castle, Alston, Manchester, Wigan, Biggar, Moffat, Deanburnhaugh, Golspie, Plymouth, Okehampton, Taunton, Bridport, Southampton, Winchester, Petersfield, Worthing, Billinghurst, Haslemere, Swanage, Eastbourne, Uckfield, Hastings, Crawley, Westerham, Ashford, Dover, Rochester, Basingstoke, Feltwell, Bradford, Settle, Brough, Thurso, Rochdale, Huddersfield, Burnley, Leeds, Broughton in Furness, Hereford, Cambridge, Bala, Llanwddyn, Chesterfield, Malton, Penrith, Hexham, and Haltwhistle.
