Weather and climate change

Headline:

Heavy showers and thunderstorms for southern UK today.

Today:

Fine, very warm and dry for many, though cloudier in some North Sea coastal areas. Cloudier and more unsettled over southern UK where some heavy showers and thunderstorms at times, particularly first thing and again this afternoon.

Tonight:

Early evening showers and thunderstorms over southern UK slowly easing, most regions then dry with clear spells overnight. Showery rain may affect parts of southeastern UK overnight though. Warm again.

Sunday:

Fine, very warm and dry for many, though some North Sea coastal areas cloudier. Heavy showers and thunderstorms will affect parts of southern UK, especially East Anglia and southeast England.

Outlook for Monday to Wednesday:

Scattered showers and thunderstorms on Monday, these more widespread on Tuesday and Wednesday. Temperatures generally close to normal with light or moderate winds for most places.

Updated: 05:00 (UTC+1) on Sat 24 Jul 2021

Remaining unsettled through much of this period, with most places seeing showers or rain at times. Heavy and persistent rain is likely across northern Scotland on Thursday and the rest of the UK could well see showers develop though the day, some heavy and possibly thundery at times. Conditions remain changeable with outbreaks of rain moving in from the west, and further thundery showers possible between any drier interludes. Stronger that average winds are expected for the time of year. From the end of next week until early August, we will likely see mixed conditions with sunny spells and heavy showers, perhaps with some more prolonged rain at times. Southwestern areas possibly staying driest whereas the northeast could be wetter than usual. Average temperatures are expected.

Updated: 15:00 (UTC+1) on Sat 24 Jul 2021

Changeable conditions look likely to continue through the start of this period, with sunny spells mixed in with some showers at times or longer spells of rain, these more prevalent in the northwest. Although confidence in the detail is low, there are tentative signals suggesting that high pressure may become more dominant during the middle of August, bringing more settled, drier and warmer conditions for many. There could still be a risk of showers or thunderstorms at times. Temperatures are most likely to be above average.

Updated: 16:00 (UTC+1) on Fri 23 Jul 2021