Met Office weather update: Rainfall predictions as summer comes to an end

author: FutureCar Staff    

The UK has recently experienced a more summery weather after a wet July. However, this dry and settled weather will come to an end on Friday as heavy showers, possibly accompanied by thunderstorms, are expected in parts of the country. The Met Office has issued two yellow weather warnings for wind along the west coast of Wales and thunderstorms covering a large area of southern and central England. Fortunately, the worst of the rain should clear by Saturday, allowing for some sun over the weekend.

According to the Met Office, Friday is predicted to be a wet day for much of the country. Active weather fronts moving from the southwest to the northeast will bring heavy rain, at times thundery, to many areas. Northern Scotland is expected to clear from the rain on Saturday afternoon. Despite the rain, temperatures will remain warm, possibly reaching a peak of 28ºC and staying "stubbornly high" in some areas overnight. Strong and gusty easterly winds are also expected, particularly in northern and western coastal areas of Wales.

Met Office forecaster, Aidan McGivern, explains that another area of low pressure will approach the UK on Friday, causing instability in the atmosphere and the potential for showers or thunderstorms. Central parts of the UK may experience heavy downpours, although there is some uncertainty about the distribution. The day will still be fairly warm where breaks in the cloud occur, but it will feel humid due to the southerly airflow. Met Office deputy chief meteorologist, Steven Keates, warns of intense thunderstorms breaking out over parts of England on Friday evening, bringing heavy rain, hail, and frequent lightning. Heavy rain is also expected to move steadily northeast, potentially resulting in substantial rainfall totals in Northern Ireland and eastern Scotland.

Here is the latest forecast from the Met Office:

Friday: Bands of heavy and thundery rain will push north-eastwards throughout the day. Dry and bright conditions are expected on either side of the rain. More heavy rain will move into the south-west later in the day. It will become increasingly windy.

Friday night: The night will remain cloudy and windy as heavy rain and thunderstorms continue to move north-east. The rain will start to ease from the south-west by dawn, but it will feel very humid.

Saturday: The day will start off rather cloudy and blustery with ongoing heavy rain moving north-eastwards. Sunshine and showers will persist in the north-west, but it will become drier and brighter for many areas. It will still feel warm.

Sunday to Tuesday: Sunday will be less humid with scattered showers becoming increasingly isolated in the north-west by Monday. Tuesday may be cloudier, but most areas will remain dry. It will continue to feel warm, especially in the south-east.

As for when the rain will stop, the start of next week is expected to have a mix of sunshine and showers, with a possibility of hotter weather later in the week, particularly in the south. However, the Met Office states that there is still a large degree of uncertainty. Aidan McGivern explains that low pressure will be to the north-west of the UK by the end of the weekend, with higher pressure towards the south. This will result in more showers in the north and fewer rain interludes as you move south and east. The jet stream is also likely to become more amplified next week, potentially allowing warm air to push north across the continent. However, there is a spread in potential warmth, with some models indicating average temperatures.

FutureCar Staff