A powerful 600-mile rainstorm is forecasted to sweep across much of the UK, bringing heavy downpours and stormy conditions starting August 27. However, Somerset will be one of just eight counties expected to avoid the brunt of the rainfall, according to WXCharts weather maps.
The storm is predicted to batter large swathes of the country, with the East Midlands and southern Scotland set to experience the heaviest precipitation. Alongside Somerset, counties like Aberdeenshire, Middlesex, Kent, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire are expected to miss the deluge.
This weather change follows the UK’s fourth heatwave of the summer, which has seen temperatures soar to nearly 30°C in some areas. The incoming front is likely to cause temperatures to drop dramatically, potentially hitting as low as 5°C in central Scotland and around 10°C in parts of England.
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Rainfall is expected to last approximately 24 hours, intensifying in northern England to around 3mm per hour on August 28 before gradually moving away from the south. While this marks a notable shift from recent hot and dry conditions, the summer has been characterized by wildly fluctuating weather—from scorching heatwaves to intense storms.
The Met Office has issued yellow thunderstorm warnings for large areas including north-eastern Scotland and eastern Northern Ireland, highlighting risks such as disrupted transport, power outages, and localized flooding.
Looking ahead, low-pressure systems from the Atlantic are expected to bring unsettled weather through the end of August and into September, with forecasts warning of heavy rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds, particularly in southern and western regions. Despite these shifts, temperatures may remain above average overall, with intermittent hot spells remaining possible in the south.
Earlier in the week, seven regions in England faced yellow heat alerts due to ongoing high temperatures. Such warnings highlight increased health risks, especially for older adults and those with underlying medical conditions, as well as challenges for healthcare services and workforce capacity during extreme heat.