The Met Office has identified 37 areas across the UK that are likely to experience heavy rainfall on Thursday. Weather maps indicate that rain will sweep across northern regions, covering Scotland by mid-morning and reaching parts of England by early afternoon. This unsettled weather is attributed to a low-pressure system arriving from the northwest.
Regions Affected
The full list of areas expected to see rainfall includes:
- Cumbria
- Northumberland
- Durham
- North Yorkshire
- Lancashire
- Aberdeen City
- Aberdeenshire
- Angus
- Argyll and Bute
- Clackmannanshire
- Dumfries and Galloway
- Dundee City
- East Ayrshire
- East Dunbartonshire
- East Lothian
- East Renfrewshire
- City of Edinburgh
- Eilean Siar (Western Isles)
- Falkirk
- Fife
- Glasgow City
- Highland
- Inverclyde
- Midlothian
- Moray
- North Ayrshire
- North Lanarkshire
- Orkney Islands
- Perth and Kinross
- Renfrewshire
- Scottish Borders
- Shetland Islands
- South Ayrshire
- South Lanarkshire
- Stirling
- West Dunbartonshire
- West Lothian
Forecast Details
The Met Office forecast for Thursday states: "Outbreaks of locally heavy rain gradually easing in the north. Hill and coastal fog with drizzle affecting southern and western areas. Meanwhile, hot sunshine in the southeast." Conditions are not expected to improve on Friday, with rain affecting northern and western parts, while the southeast remains hot and sunny. Saturday may bring patchy rain moving southeast with cooler air, followed by mostly dry conditions on Sunday and a return to heat in the south.
Thunderstorm Risk
Rainfall is expected to continue through Friday, with thunderstorms likely to develop, particularly in the South-west. Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree explained: "This week’s contrasting weather of both heat, rain, and potential thunderstorms is a result of a low-pressure system influencing the UK from the northwest. The southerly flow stalls a front over the west of the UK whilst allowing temperatures to build in the southeast." He added that despite high temperatures, with Friday predicted to be the warmest day, cloud cover could impact the heat.
Preparation Advice
The Met Office urges households to prepare for heavy rain by checking flood advice for their area, charging mobile phones, preparing a flood kit, parking cars outside flood zones, storing valuables high up, and turning off gas and electrical supplies.
