Met Office weather forecasters central and south-eastern parts of England – both among the many areas in drought following the recent hot spells – are particularly likely to see showers
Tinderbox Britain is set to get some much needed rain over the weekend, forecasters say. Thunderstorms are even expected to break out across the country in drought-hit areas.
Met Office weather forecasters central and south-eastern parts of England – both among the many areas in drought following the recent hot spells – are particularly likely to see showers as the sweltering heatwave is finally set to end.
It comes after another sizzler on Friday as Britain melted in the fifth heatwave of the year. Meteorologist Clare Nasir said: “As the cloud slips down towards the south-east, these thundery downpours will be sporadic, and they will tend to ease through Saturday.
“As we head through the day on Saturday, a mix of cloud and sunshine. Notice first thing again one or two heavier downpours could be possible and again with the risk of thunder here.”
It comes after the nation melted on Thursday with temperatures hitting 38.1C in London, the fifth hottest day on record. And parts of the Midlands, Lincolnshire, East Anglia and the south-east saw temperatures pass 30C again on Friday.
The Met Office’s chief forecaster Neil Armstrong, said: “This current spell of extreme heat is the latest in a remarkable summer. Numerous temperature records have been broken and we’ve seen an exceptionally dry season across much of England and Wales too.
“Into the weekend temperatures could still hover over 30°C in the south, with a gradual return to average over the next few days.”
A heat health alert was extended until Saturday for much of England amid warnings that high temperatures may increase health risks for vulnerable groups.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended the current amber heat health alert for the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, London and East of England until 10am on Saturday.
It warned high temperatures “may increase health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups”. By Sunday, it will return to around average for this time of year of between 17C and 26C. And it will remain dry for most of the UK over the weekend.
But Met Office maps show heavier rain falling in south-east and eastern parts of England on Saturday morning. In total, 12 counties could face the thundery rain.
UK counties facing thundery rain on Saturday
- Lincolnshire
- Nottinghamshire
- Norfolk
- Suffolk
- Essex
- Hertfordshire
- Surrey
- Kent
- Sussex
- Hampshire
- Berkshire
- Buckinghamshire