When will it rain again in the UK? (Image: Getty)
It’s been dry and sunny for over a week now with very little sign of rain, leaving us all feeling hot and bothered and our gardens starting to die off in the ongoing drought.
Today, the Met Office has given its verdict on when it might finally rain again in the UK, with a specific ‘when will it rain’ forecast.
It comes after hosepipe bans were announced in several parts of the UK, including Anglian Water customers in the East of England, and South East Water in Kent as well as Southern Water covering Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
The Met Office said: “After weeks of hot, dry weather and widespread heatwave conditions across many parts of the UK, one of the questions we’re hearing most often is: when will it rain again?”
Unfortunately, it’s not good news for those hoping for some respite.
It added: “The short answer is that for many areas, significant rainfall is not expected in the immediate future. Current Met Office forecasts suggest rain will remain in short supply across much of the UK over the coming days.
When is it going to rain again?
The Met Office said that high pressure has been the ‘dominant feature’ of the UK’s weather pattern in recent weeks, bringing prolonged spells of sunshine, light winds and very limited rain.
The settled pattern has allowed temperatures to climb well above average, with several parts of the UK experiencing their third heatwave of the year so far.
While some areas have seen showers or thunderstorms, these have been very localised, with many areas having remained completely dry for extended periods.
It added: “For the next few days, high pressure is expected to remain close to the UK, meaning dry weather will continue for most areas. The most likely chance of rain will be in the far south or south-west, where a few isolated showers are possible. However, these are expected to be scattered and short-lived, with many places remaining dry.
“There is a small chance of thunderstorms developing in places later this week. While these could bring brief spells of heavy rain, they are expected to be localised rather than widespread. As a result, they are unlikely to deliver the sustained rainfall that many gardens, reservoirs and agricultural fields may be hoping for.
“The settled pattern is expected to continue into the weekend. Most areas are expected to be mostly dry, with the best of the sunshine in the south and west. There is a low chance of an isolated shower in parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England, but many locations will remain rain-free.
Will it rain later in July?
Things look slightly more hopeful later this month. The Met Office said that the dry pattern may begin to ‘weaken’ later this month, with an ‘increasing chance’ of wetter conditions, although its confidence ‘remains low’.
It added: “This does not necessarily mean a return to prolonged wet weather. Instead, a more changeable pattern could develop, bringing a mixture of dry, sunny periods and occasional showers, thunderstorms or longer spells of rain.
“So, if you’re wondering when it will rain, the latest Met Office forecast suggests most areas will have to wait a little longer.”