Heavy rain and widespread thunderstorms are expected across parts of the UK this coming week, with weather data suggesting around 20 counties in England and Wales could see 40mm of rain by Friday.
The UKMO weather model indicates some areas could receive roughly 90mm of rain in total from now until Friday, which would offer relief after record dry spells and the declaration of drought status across parts of England and Wales.
Eastern England set for most rain
Areas in the east of England are expected to see the most rain through the week, although significant downpours are also likely in North Wales, the north-west, the Midlands and parts of the south-east.
The counties potentially affected include Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Cheshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Sussex, Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, Flintshire, Denbighshire and Caernarfonshire.
What is a Spanish plume?
BBC Weather forecasters have said a “Spanish plume type of system” could bring “thundery outbreaks” across the UK next week. A Spanish plume occurs when warm air moving northward from Spain rises and cools, leading to the formation of thunder clouds.
The Met Office explains: “As cooler air spreads from the west, instability increases and the very warm air rises through the cooler air, enhancing the formation of thunderstorms.
“The very warm air from Spain forms a layer at height and acts as a lid, initially preventing warm air rising from the surface. However, as the air at the surface increases in temperature eventually it warms enough to break through this barrier and air can then rise from the surface up to the higher parts of the troposphere.
“This air is very unstable and the dramatic release of energy that occurs results in the formation of cumulonimbus clouds, lightning, thunder, hail, downpours of rain and sometimes gusty winds.”
Temperatures to peak midweek
The mercury is expected to reach 25C in southern areas on Monday and 22C in northern areas, before climbing to 26C in the south on Tuesday, followed by 28C on Wednesday. Conditions will then cool off as the weekend approaches, forecasters say.
