New weather maps from WXCharts indicate that large parts of the UK could be hit by a prolonged spell of heavy rain lasting around 30 hours, starting Saturday, July 18, and continuing into the evening of Sunday, July 19. The maps use colour coding to show rainfall intensity, with blue for lighter showers and green, yellow, orange, and red for heavier bursts.
Heavy Rain Forecast for Saturday
The first map, valid for 12pm on Saturday, July 18, shows scattered showers across much of the UK. The heaviest rain is forecast over parts of the East Midlands, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and East Anglia, where orange and red patches appear. According to the rainfall scale, the most intense areas could see rates of around 10mm per hour. Heavier showers also affect parts of northeast Scotland, while Wales, southwest England, and much of Northern Ireland see lighter outbreaks.
By 6pm on Saturday, the rain becomes more widespread across England. A large band of heavy showers stretches across parts of the Midlands, East Anglia, and southeast England, with orange and red areas indicating the most intense downpours. Rainfall rates in these areas could reach 5mm to 10mm per hour. Scotland continues to see heavy showers, particularly in the northeast, while Ireland remains much drier.
Unsettled Conditions Continue into Sunday
Conditions remain unsettled into Sunday. The 12pm map for July 19 shows further heavy showers developing across central and eastern England, with orange and red colours appearing over parts of the East Midlands, East Anglia, and southeast England. Scattered heavy showers also affect northern England and eastern Scotland, while Wales and southwest England see more scattered, lighter showers.
By 6pm on Sunday, many northern and western areas turn much drier. However, a band of heavy rain is still shown stretching across parts of southeast England and into the near continent. Orange and red colours remain visible across parts of Kent, East Sussex, Essex, and neighbouring areas, suggesting the heaviest rain could continue there into the evening. Most of Scotland, Northern Ireland, and western Britain see little or no rainfall.
Met Office Long-Range Forecast
The Met Office's long-range forecast for Saturday, July 11 to Monday, July 20 says: “Southern areas are likely to start this period hot, with heatwave conditions persisting. To the north, an Atlantic frontal zone will introduce somewhat cooler conditions, with the potential for scattered thunderstorms to develop just ahead of this. Into the following week, high pressure is likely to build to the north or northwest of the UK, though its exact orientation is rather more uncertain. This would bring a lot of dry weather for many areas, though perhaps an increased chance, relative to previous days, of showers or thunderstorms in the south. Temperatures probably moderating a little, though remaining above average for many areas.”
