After weeks of scorching temperatures that peaked at 38C, the UK is set for a spell of heavy rain, with the Met Office issuing a yellow thunderstorm warning for Northern Ireland. New weather maps from forecaster WXCharts show rain stretching across large parts of England from 6am on August 18, with between 0.1 and 3mm of rainfall expected in the north east, the Midlands, and London.
Rain to hit 17 regions
The wet weather will also affect Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, the Peak District, Oxford, Cambridge, Leicester, and Newcastle. Cornwall and Devon in the south west will avoid the rain, as will most of Wales apart from the coast and the north. Scotland will mostly stay dry except for Edinburgh and surrounding areas.
Northern Ireland is set to see the most rain, with the Met Office issuing a yellow thunderstorm warning from 11am today until 6am tomorrow. The warning covers County Antrim, County Armagh, County Down, County Fermanagh, County Londonderry, and County Tyrone.
Impact and forecast
The Met Office warns of spray and sudden flooding, which could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures. There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with some buildings damaged by floodwater, lightning strikes, hail, or strong winds. Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services.
A Met Office forecast for August 18 to August 27 says: "A rather more changeable spell of weather through the mid to latter part of August, with Atlantic frontal systems bringing some rain or showers at times to the UK. The heavier and more reliable rainfall is more likely to be in parts of the west and northwest, but it is possible that some southern and eastern areas will see rain at times too."
"Later in the period high pressure may have more of an influence with drier conditions returning for many areas. Temperatures are likely to remain above average overall, with the possibility of further hot weather developing."
