Maps show where rain will hit UK as half a month's rainfall forecast in 24 hours

Yahoo

5 days ago

Most of the UK is set to be hit by thunderstorms on Monday with some areas expecting half a month's rainfall.
The Met Office has issued two yellow weather warnings for thunderstorms today that cover most of England and Scotland and parts of Wales, with some places forecast up to 40mm of rain in just two hours.
The first warning, which is already in place, affects the East of England, London and the South East, while a second warning, which comes into force at 11am, covers the North East, the North West, Yorkshire, the East and West Midlands, areas of Wales and almost all of Scotland.
Both thunderstorms warnings are scheduled to last until 9pm on Monday, and mean there is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly and of floodwater causing a danger to life.
The Met Office has also issued two separate yellow weather warnings for rain - one covering the north east of Scotland from 3pm on Monday until 6am on Tuesday.
The second is In Northern Ireland, and is in place until 6pm on Monday and covers the east part of the country.
It is Northern Ireland that is forecast to experience the worst of the rain, with half a month's worth expected to fall in just one day.
An even more severe amber weather warning for rain had been in place there until Monday morning, and the town of Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, has been hit by flooding, while a carriageway in Craigavon, Co Armagh, has also been closed.
Simon Partridge, a forecaster at the Met Office, said: 'It looks like Northern Ireland is the place where we could see the most rainfall and certainly the most impactful rainfall. They could see 50mm to 75mm of rain within 12 to 18 hours.'
The Met Office said the average rainfall in Northern Ireland for the whole of July is usually 89mm.
In England, 11 flood alerts - meaning flooding is possible - are in place on Monday morning, most of which are in the Birmingham area, according to the Environment Agency.
Partridge said: 'We could see some locally heavy downpours, 20mm to 40mm of rain is possible in a couple of hours.
'That is potentially up to around half a month's worth of rain in a couple of hours in some places. You will see quite a lot of water on the roads and difficult driving conditions.
Northern Ireland saw heavy rain in the last 24 hours, with 68mm recorded at Killowen - and likely higher amounts elsewhere.The southeast also picked up some fairly large totals this morning 🌧️Here are the rainfall totals since 5pm yesterday 👇 pic.twitter.com/LyC7gpSJsW
— Met Office (@metoffice) July 21, 2025
'Hopefully nothing more significant than that, it certainly won't be an issue for any of the rivers because they are quite low.
'There is a good chance of seeing some lightning and some hail, with some gusty winds as well."
The forecast for the rest of this week is changeable, the Met Office said, with more rain likely on Tuesday and thundery downpours possible in the south east of England on Wednesday.
Read more: These Met Office maps show the UK areas where summers are getting hottest (Yahoo News UK)
Yahoo breaks down what the weather will be like for each region of the UK, according to the Met Office.
London and the South East
Monday and Tuesday
A rather cloudy start, particularly in eastern areas, with cloud gradually breaking to allow sunny spells and scattered showers. Some of the showers will become heavy, slow-moving and locally thundery, especially during the afternoon. Light winds throughout. Maximum temperature 25°C.
Tuesday will be largely sunny initially but cloud will quickly spread eastwards, breaking into bright intervals and scattered showers. Some of these showers may turn heavy and locally thundery. Cooler for many. Maximum temperature 23°C.
Wednesday to Friday
Sunny spells and scattered showers on Wednesday and Thursday, locally heavy and thundery. Feeling pleasantly warm in the sunshine. Dry, largely sunny and potentially very warm on Friday.
South West
Monday and Tuesday
Skies will cloud over this morning with outbreaks of light rain and drizzle for many through the day. Parts of Cornwall and west Devon may stay largely dry with a few brighter spells possible. Maximum temperature 22°C.
Largely dry and cloudy on Tuesday with a few scattered showers. Prolonged spells of sunshine will develop in the east during the afternoon. Maximum temperature 22°C.
Wednesday to Friday
Wednesday will likely bring further heavy showers with a risk of thunder. However, Thursday should be dry with some warm sunny spells. Cloudier for a time on Friday, brighter later.
Midlands
Monday and Tuesday
After a largely dry start with some sunny spells, heavy showers will develop in the afternoon. Showers could be thundery at times, with a risk of hail and gusty winds too. Feeling warm and humid in any sunny spells. Maximum temperature 23°C.
Some light patchy rain is possible first thing on Tuesday, but this will clear to leave a largely dry day with partly cloudy skies and sunny spells. Maximum temperature 22°C.
Wednesday to Friday
Wednesday will likely bring further heavy showers with a risk of thunder. However, Thursday should be dry with some warm sunny spells. Cloudier for a time on Friday, brighter later.
Heavy rain over Northern Ireland on Monday morning with flooding possible in places. Some rain in parts of Scotland, northwest England and Wales too ⚠️Heavy thundery downpours across southeast England and these developing in other eastern areas through the morning ⛈️ pic.twitter.com/GTIlqoNlFE
— Met Office (@metoffice) July 20, 2025
North East
Monday and Tuesday
A rather cloudy but dry start, with cloud soon breaking to reveal sunny spells and scattered showers. Some of the showers will become heavy, slow-moving and locally thundery, especially during the afternoon. Light winds throughout. Maximum temperature 23°C.
Rather cloudy on Tuesday with patchy light rain gradually breaking into bright intervals and scattered showers. Some of these showers may turn heavy and locally thundery in the afternoon. Cooler for most. Maximum temperature 19°C.
Wednesday to Friday
Fewer showers on Wednesday and Thursday, though some may still be heavy. Feeling pleasantly warm in the sunshine. Cloudier on Friday, with patchy light rain likely over western hills.
North West
Monday and Tuesday
Heavy showers will develop across the region today with some sunny spells too. Showers could be thundery at times, with a risk of hail and gusty winds too. Feeling warm and humid in any sunny spells. Maximum temperature 22°C.
A grey, cloudy and damp start to Tuesday. However, rain will gradually clear to give a dry afternoon with largely cloudy skies and a few brighter spells. Maximum temperature 21°C.
Wednesday to Friday
Wednesday will likely bring further heavy showers with a risk of thunder. However, Thursday should be dry with some warm sunny spells. Cloudier for a time on Friday, brighter later.
Scotland
Monday and Tuesday
Some patchy light rain to start the day. This clears westwards from late morning with some bright or sunny spells developing, but also scattered showers, which could be heavy with a risk of thunder, mainly over Central and western Tayside. Maximum temperature 22°C.
A mostly dry Tuesday, but it will be rather cloudy with a few light showers at times. Maximum temperature 20°C.
Wednesday to Friday
A few light showers or patchy spells of rain, mainly on Wednesday and Friday, but generally drier and less muggy than recent days.
Northern Ireland
Monday and Tuesday
Heavy rain in the east will ease through the morning and spread west to give a generally dull damp day with patchy rain. Some heavier outbreaks are likely across the north towards the end of the day. Maximum temperature 19°C.
A mostly dry morning on Tuesday, rather cloudy but some bright or sunny spells. Scattered mainly light showers in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 20°C.
Wednesday to Friday
A few light showers or patchy spells of rain, mainly on Wednesday and Friday, but generally a lot drier and less muggy than recent days.
Wales
Monday and Tuesday
After a largely cloudy and dry start, outbreaks of rain will gradually move in from the west and persist through the day. Eastern areas may be a little brighter at times, perhaps with the odd heavy and thundery shower. Maximum temperature 20°C.
A grey, cloudy and damp start to Tuesday. However, rain will gradually clear to give a mostly dry afternoon with largely cloudy skies and a few brighter spells, and the odd shower. Maximum temperature 21°C.
Wednesday to Friday
Wednesday will likely bring further heavy showers with a risk of thunder. However, Thursday should be dry with some warm sunny spells. Cloudier for a time on Friday, brighter later.