Britain is bracing for a dramatic weather shift this week, with meteorologists predicting that a month’s worth of rain could fall within 24 hours, following a brief heatwave that saw temperatures peak at 34°C on Monday—the hottest day of 2024 so far.
The heavy rain is expected to bring a significant drop in temperatures, with a decrease of about 10°C forecasted. While the southeast will still enjoy warm conditions today, with cities like London, Cambridge, and Norwich seeing temperatures in the high 20s, cooler and wetter weather is set to arrive starting tomorrow.
Stephen Dixon, a spokesperson for the Met Office, explained, “A plume of air from the South introduced those higher-than-average temperatures, particularly in the southeast. However, the UK is transitioning back to a more changeable weather regime, with a westerly influence bringing showers and longer spells of rain.”
The Met Office has issued warnings for Thursday, anticipating a particularly impactful weather front moving in from the northwest. This system is expected to bring heavy rainfall to regions including Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern England. Some areas could receive between 15mm and 30mm of rain, while mountainous regions in western Scotland may experience up to 80mm—nearly a month’s worth of rain, considering August’s average rainfall is around 89mm.
“Some places could see between 15 and 30mm of rain quite widely, with some mountains possibly seeing up to 80mm throughout the day. It will be quite breezy in the north on Thursday as well, with gusty winds and gales possible,” Dixon noted.
Looking ahead to the weekend, the weather is expected to become more settled, with temperatures averaging around 24°C in the southeast. “The setup for the weekend is for a bit of a drier interlude for much of the UK, albeit with temperatures not as high as they have been in recent days. There’s a chance of some drizzle in western parts at times, but in general, it’s looking like a dry weekend on the way,” Dixon added.
As Britain prepares for this significant weather change, residents are advised to stay informed about potential flooding and to prepare for a return to more typical mid-August temperatures after the recent heatwave. The anticipated rainfall could lead to challenging conditions, particularly in areas expected to receive the heaviest downpours.
