The Met Office has issued its verdict on whether the upcoming August bank holiday will be a "total wash out," following the first heavy rain in several weeks across the UK.
The UK has experienced several heatwaves in 2026, with temperatures often topping 35C. However, conditions have deteriorated in recent days, with heavy rain falling across large parts of the country and temperatures becoming much cooler. Earlier this week, the Met Office issued several thunderstorm warnings, warning of torrential rain, flooding and possible power cuts.
Low pressure to dominate
Met Office Meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth has warned there is a "change on the way throughout next week," with it "becoming more unsettled" for the last week of August. She said in a new weather forecast: "Low pressure is in charge throughout most of next week, but how does that change as we approach the bank holiday?"
"It's looking like it's going to stick around for much of the bank holiday. That doesn't mean it's going to be a total wash out but with low pressure nearby, it will rain on at least some of the days of the bank holiday."
Wetter and warmer than average
Ms Shuttleworth added: "From the end of August into the start of September, low pressure is set to dominate our weather throughout much of that time. That means more rainfall, temperatures closer to average or below, and more in the way of rain to come through the next few weeks."
She continued: "So we're going to move from the drier side of average to the wetter side of average throughout the last week of August and into that bank holiday weekend."
