The UK faces a wet and stormy late summer bank holiday weekend, with the Met Office issuing yellow weather warnings for thunderstorms and heavy downpours. Unsettled conditions will bring above-average rainfall across many regions from Thursday through Monday, disrupting outdoor plans before temperatures potentially rise in early September.
Summer weather is bowing out with a decidedly soggy flourish across the UK. Following what was one of the driest summers to date, five days of rain and strong winds are forecast from Thursday to Monday, marking a sharp contrast to the sunshine and blue skies Wales enjoyed in recent bank holidays. The late summer bank holiday on Monday, August 31, brings a wave of heavy rain, lightning, and strong winds that will make the country feel as though autumn has arrived early.
Yellow Thunderstorm Warnings and Midweek Downpours Across England and Wales
Severe weather alerts have arrived well before the long weekend officially begins. Yellow thunderstorm warnings are in place on Thursday across the West and East Midlands, the North West, the South East, the South West, the east of England, and parts of Wales. The Met Office has warned that lightning and hail could be widespread as the storm moves northwards.
According to forecasters, 20 to 30mm of rainfall is expected to accumulate within three hours across affected zones, with totals reaching up to 50mm over a 12-hour period on Thursday. There is a small chance that some places may see more than 50mm in three hours and more than 75mm over 12 hours, especially over east-facing high ground. Lightning and hail of 1 to 2cm will also be hazardous, the forecaster warned.
Two consecutive weather warnings have been issued this week for Wales as thunderstorms could cause flooding across the country on Wednesday and Thursday. More rain is set to arrive on Friday evening in London, with heavier downpours forecast in Wales, the north of England and Scotland.
Regional Forecasts for the Saturday and Sunday Washout
Outdoor holiday plans face serious disruption as wet weather sweeps across the nations. On Saturday, temperatures will stay in the low 20C across England and Wales. But heavy downpours are also expected to sweep east across the country.
Rain coverage figures highlight stark regional variations for Saturday. The Met Office has forecast 70 per cent rain coverage in London and Manchester on Saturday, while Cardiff is set to see 90 per cent rain coverage. In comparison, Edinburgh is forecast to see highs of 21C and 50 per cent rain coverage.
On Sunday, more wet weather is forecast to hit England, Wales and Scotland. London is expected to see light rain in the early afternoon, while Manchester and Cardiff could see heavy rain for most of the day. For the rest of the UK, the upcoming three-day stretch comes after a thundery week with yellow weather storm warnings. On Friday, we can expect bands of rain and showers moving across many parts… with most persistent rain towards the northeast
. Northern Ireland is expected to remain relatively dry that day, however, while the south-east of England could escape some of the worst showers too. It will also be windy at times, especially on Saturday,
and this breeze and rain might be felt strongest in the south of the UK, though more northerly areas are still likely to face heavy clouds. Sunday will be an unsettled day with showers or longer spells of rain, particularly across the north and the west, and some thunder is possible.
Monday Sunnier Interludes and the September Outlook
The bank holiday Monday offers a brief reprieve as wetter, windier conditions make their way north, alongside sunny interludes and the odd shower elsewhere. The weather is set to brighten up with sunny interludes on Monday in London, with a few showers in the afternoon. According to the Met Office, the capital and parts of the South will enjoy highs of 22C and sunshine. Cardiff could also see a sunnier afternoon on Monday after downpours in the morning, with more rain forecast in Manchester.
Looking ahead, the shift toward autumn appears firmly locked in. The Met Office forecast for the last summer bank holiday and the first week of September for the UK states: An unsettled start to this period, as showers or longer spells of rain are possible across many parts of the UK. Some heavy rain is likely, perhaps with some thunderstorms too.
It will likely remain changeable into early September, with rainfall amounts probably above average for the time year and the potential for some strong winds at times, which will be welcome for some after periods of drought. However, some drier, more settled interludes could develop at times. Temperatures are likely to be near average, although some short-lived warm or hot spells are possible, especially in the south. Meteorologists do not expect the weather to dry out until late September, and the wettest conditions are likely to be in the north-west.
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