Britain’s wet summer refuses to abate, with the Met Office predicting heavy rain on Sunday afternoon – potentially jeopardising play at Wimbledon and disrupting the British Grand Prix.
Rain isn’t the only form of weather making the public pine for a more orthodox summer. Temperatures on Saturday were below average by 2-3C, with a high of 21C being reached in Northern Ireland, the forecaster said.
Similar temperatures are expected on Sunday along with heavy rain that could affect a number of sporting events.
A yellow warning for rain has been issued for the north Wales and Merseyside areas between 4am and 10am on Sunday. This means heavy showers may cause some travel disruption and flooding in the morning.
Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said: “We’ve had quite a few heavy showers across the country today, there was some pretty heavy rain in the east but that’s cleared and left us with showers.
“There will be more, tomorrow is sunshine and showers across the whole of the UK, but not quite as windy as today.”
He added: “There will probably be disruption to play across Wimbledon tomorrow, mainly in the afternoon. Wimbledon will mostly be dry in the morning, and the same with the Grand Prix.”
The UK has experienced an exceptionally wet year, with the country averaging a record 40 flood alerts and warnings a day in the first four months of 2024.
As well as dampening the spirits of those hoping for a warm and sunny summer, the excess rain since the beginning of the year has led to UK fruit and vegetable production decreasing significantly, with fields waterlogged and some farms entirely underwater.
The greater rainfall this year has been attributed by meteorologists to the climate crisis, which allows the atmosphere to carry more moisture. Another factor is El Niño, a climate pattern that produces warmer waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean every few years.
