Stormy Weather Ahead: Somerset and Southwest England Brace for Heavy Rain and Thunderstorms

The Met Office is forecasting a wet and windy weekend across Britain as a series of low-pressure systems from the North Atlantic sweep in, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds, and thunderstorms. The most intense weather is expected in Southwest England and Wales, with Somerset set to experience heavy rain from 6am Sunday continuing throughout the day.

Forecasters warn that some areas could see up to 20mm of rainfall in just a few hours, intensifying the risk of disruption. Coastal regions such as Devon and Dorset are likely to face stormy conditions by Sunday evening. Meanwhile, scattered storms are predicted to move through rural parts of Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire.

Detailed Met Office charts indicate that south Wales and Southwest England will endure the heaviest downpours on Sunday morning. Though the thunderstorms will be brief and intermittent, rural locations in Dorset, Wiltshire, and Somerset carry the highest likelihood of thunder and lightning during the afternoon hours.

Looking ahead, the Met Office’s forecast warns of continued blustery showers and rain from Saturday through Monday nationwide. Specifically, the South West will see persistent damp conditions on Sunday, gradually clearing with some brighter spells and easing winds Monday and Tuesday.

Beyond that, the unsettled weather pattern is expected to persist through late October. Areas of low pressure will continue to bring spells of rain, showers, and occasional strong winds, though occasional drier intervals may offer short relief. Temperatures are predicted to hover around normal levels, with variability depending on the path of the weather systems.

Towards the end of the forecast period, a possible shift toward cooler, more showery conditions with a northwesterly wind may occur as high pressure builds over the Atlantic and low pressure centers move east of the UK.