Showers and Storms Brewing

Yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far with Cavendish in Suffolk peaking at 32.4c, it wasn't hot everywhere though with the Shetland Isles barely getting above 14c. Today will potentially be hotter still in the southeast, but we also have some complications arriving in the form of rain, showers and the potential for storms.

The reason is a front which is running up from the southwest of the country and into northeast England, and already we have some heavy bursts of rain moving through southwest England and south Wales. The trend will be for that rain to shift slowly east and north, and as the day wears on, the proximity of the front and the heat of the day in central and eastern England will also mean there is a risk of some thunderstorms developing too - some of which could be on the potent side with hail, strong gusting winds and frequent lightning.

We also have showers in other parts today, chiefly the north of Scotland and northern half of Ireland catching the majority of them, and again here is the threat of some thunderstorms breaking out which could be pretty intense in places.

Temperatures will once more be warmest in that southeastern quarter of England where highs of 30-34c expected. Elsewhere it's a slightly more comfortable 19-25c.

Overnight it may take time for some of the showers and storms to ease away, but eventually the majority will, giving a reasonably dry and bright start to Monday for many. Showers will brew up through the day though, most widespread in Scotland and eastern England, elsewhere they'll be fewer and further between. Tomorrow goes down as another fairly warm day across the country with many hitting 20-23c, it'll be warmer in the southeast with 25-27c but that's still a few degrees down on the weekend's values.

Beyond that, it's a pretty traditional northwest-southeast split with the southeast seeing the best of the dry and warm weather, the further northwest you head the more likely you are to see wet, windy and cooler weather.

Looking ahead toward the final bank holiday weekend of the summer that may change though with low pressure currently forecast to arrive on the scene just in time to bring the potential for some rain at times for just about everyone. This is a long way off though...

Published on 19th August 2012 10:36 Updated: 19th August 2012 10:36