The Met Office has warned that heavy rain could affect 30 counties across Scotland and Northern Ireland on Wednesday, while other parts of the UK are expected to see heatwave conditions with temperatures reaching 35-36C.
Contrasting conditions across the UK
Heatwave conditions are forecast for the south-east of England on Wednesday, with the warmest temperatures expected there. However, Northern Ireland and Scotland will be much cooler, with afternoon highs of just 18C and 20C respectively – well below the heatwave threshold.
A band of heavy rain is also expected to move across northern parts of the UK, with showers that could turn thundery at times.
Met Office forecaster's warning
Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill said: “As we head into tomorrow we do have more rain lingering over parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland. And it’s worth bearing in mind the rain could be heavy at times.”
He added: “The merging of two weather fronts across Scotland and Northern Ireland continues to bring rain through tomorrow, edging a bit south and east, and will break up a little bit - but if you’re stuck under it, we could see a fair amount of rain building up.”
Counties at risk: full list
The Met Office maps show a total of 30 counties across Northern Ireland and Scotland at risk from potentially heavy showers on Wednesday.
Scotland
- Inverness-shire
- Argyllshire
- Nairnshire
- Morayshire
- Kincardineshire
- Angus
- Perthshire
- Fife
- Kinross-shire
- Clackmannanshire
- Stirlingshire
- West Lothian
- Midlothian
- East Lothian
- Lanarkshire
- Ayrshire
- Peeblesshire
- Selkirkshire
- Dumfriesshire
- Kirkcudbrightshire
- Wigtownshire
- Buteshire
- Renfrewshire
- Dunbarton
Northern Ireland
- Down
- Antrim
- Londonderry
- Armagh
- Tyrone
- Fermanagh
BBC Weather echoes forecast
BBC Weather’s forecast for Wednesday paints a similar picture, suggesting some rain could also come in western areas. It states: “Tomorrow, cloud and showery rain affecting northern areas will clear to the south and east. In southern areas, hot with sunshine for most, though the far west could be cloudier with the odd shower.”
For the rest of the week, BBC Weather adds: “Sunny spells and just the odd shower for most on Thursday, but Scotland will see heavy, locally thundery showers drifting northwards. Staying very warm in the south. Sunshine for most on Friday, but with some scattered showers too across the north.”
