The UK August hot weather forecast points to at least five more dry days for most of the UK, with very little rainfall expected through this week. High pressure is set to stay in charge, and hints suggest the rest of summer could remain mainly dry and warm, especially in the south.
Only a few light showers are possible, mainly close to coasts. Rain-bearing weather fronts may reach parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland through the weekend, but little or no rainfall may get as far as the south and east.
England, Wales and eastern Scotland
England, Wales and eastern Scotland have been the driest areas over recent weeks. By 15 July, parts of eastern and north-eastern England had received just 26% of their expected summer rainfall, while Wisley in Surrey had seen 33 consecutive dry days.
Central England has had the longest run of dry days since 1995. Much of the UK has also had three widespread heatwaves this summer, adding to a season already marked by exceptionally hot and dry weather.
Dry weather and drought risk
The current spell comes after drought was declared across much of England, Wales and eastern Scotland last summer. That drought officially ended four months before this article, after heavy rainfall in a very wet autumn and winter recharged aquifers, rivers and reservoirs.
The UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology says flash droughts are likely to happen more often and be more intense. In practical terms, that means drying can move quickly from a weather pattern into stress on soil, grass and water supplies, instead of building slowly over months.
What farmers are doing now
Grass has turned brown and parched in many locations around the UK, and farmers in many parts of the UK are having to adapt to protect livestock and crops. The immediate pressure is on feed, grazing and water management while the dry spell continues.
For readers in the south and east, the useful rain question now sits with the weekend fronts: they may bring showers north and west, but if they fade as they push south, the driest areas will stay dry for longer. Summer thunderstorms are possible later in the season, but the forecast through this week gives little reason to expect a broad reset before then.
