UK weather forecast heavy rain is pointing to another wet week across parts of the country, with the north-west set for the heaviest falls. In western Scotland, north-west England and Northern Ireland, some places over high ground could see over 80mm of rain in the next five days.
Unsettled weather will continue after heavy rain brought flooding, travel disruption and power cuts in several places. By Thursday, parts of England and Wales could reach 26C, while Thursday is likely to be the warmest day of the week.
North-west England and western Scotland
The wettest weather will be focused across the north-west of the UK. More than three inches of rain is possible in places over high ground, a level that is most likely to fall in western Scotland, north-west England and Northern Ireland.
Over the past two weeks, several areas of low pressure have moved in from the Atlantic. That has kept conditions unsettled and repeatedly drawn bands of rain across the UK rather than leaving one long dry spell in place.
During Saturday and Sunday, Inverbervie in north-east Scotland saw two-thirds of its expected August rainfall. Over the past week, Sheffield recorded 81mm of rain, more than the area received during the whole of the rest of summer.
England and Wales
Further south across England and Wales, the rain is expected to be much more sporadic. In the south, England and Wales could see just 5 to 10mm of rain all week, even as the north-west faces repeated downpours.
That split leaves the south on a different track from Scotland and Northern Ireland. Temperatures in Scotland and Northern Ireland could reach 20C on Thursday, while parts of England and Wales could go as high as 26C.
Thursday the Warmest Day
Thursday is likely to be the warmest day of the week, and the most useful planning point for people in England and Wales who are weighing up rain against warmer conditions. For people in the north-west, the more immediate issue is the amount of rain falling on already wet ground.
The practical message is simple: the heaviest rain is aimed at the north-west, the south is set to stay warmer and much drier, and the unsettled spell is still working its way through the week.
