Today (Tuesday), rain will move eastwards across southern counties of England and Wales, bringing blustery conditions and heavy downpours in places. Elsewhere, a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers is likely, with lighter winds. Highs of 20-22°C are expected in the south and southeast, with temperatures widely in the high teens further north.  

A yellow warning for Wednesday 

A yellow warning for rain is in place from midnight until 2pm on Wednesday, covering parts of southwest England and south Wales.  

Rebekah Hicks, Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office said: “We’re expecting a band of heavy rain and strong winds to move northeast through the first part of Wednesday, followed by heavy showers and the risk of thunderstorms. Some of these could bring hail and gusty winds, particularly in southern areas.  

“Of course, the warning coincides with the first school run after the summer holidays for some, meaning a wet and potentially disruptive start to the day for many.” 

Rainfall totals are expected to reach 20-30mm widely, with 40-60mm possible in some areas over a 6-to-9-hour period. Conditions will gradually improve from the southwest through Wednesday afternoon as showers become more isolated. 

Thursday to Friday outlook 

Thursday looks to be unsettled, with widespread showers and occasional thunderstorms. Some sunny spells are expected, but rain may become more persistent in parts of western Scotland. Winds will stay brisk, especially near coasts, and temperatures will be around average for the time of year, in the high teens to low 20s. 

By Friday, southern areas will begin to see more settled conditions, with increasing sunshine and fewer showers. However, the northwest will remain wet and windy, with a small chance of coastal gales. 

Potential aurora sightings ahead 

Heightened solar activity brought an opportunity to see the aurora borealis across parts of the UK. A fast-moving coronal mass ejection (CME) left the Sun late on Saturday, and sightings were reported as far south as Dorset last night. 

While there is a chance of further viewings tonight, this is more restricted to northern parts of Scotland as the intensity wanes.  

Keep up to date with weather warnings, and you can find the latest forecast on our website, on YouTube, by following us on X and Facebook, as well as on our mobile app which is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from the Google Play store