After another overcast weekend, Brits are hoping there will finally be some sunshine in August — although the weeks ahead are not looking good.
The Met Office has said that a dry bank holiday Monday, on August 28, is “unlikely” although there could be some warm spells from August 26 to September 9.
The BBC’s outlook for London reads: “The second half of next week could be drier for a time, but low-pressure systems are expected to return, making later August and early September unsettled with temperatures near or a little above average, except in the wetter periods.”
The miserable August follows a July that was one of the wettest in British history. An average rainfall of 140.1mm across the UK last month meant that it was the sixth-highest total for the month since records began in 1836.
But why is the weather so bad and when will it stop raining?
Why is the weather so bad?
Speaking on the Met Office’s YouTube series Deep Dive, Met Office meteorologist and presenter Alex Deakin said: “What we’re seeing with the jet stream is this shift more towards being directed towards the UK from the southwest, which is helping to push low-pressure systems towards the UK.”
It seems that this low-pressure system will be continuing into the weekend.
“Ahead of the weekend, the jet stream is looking to be relatively strong and, as well as bringing a period of some more persistent rain for many, it’s also bringing some strong winds and continuing this fresh period of weather,” he added.
When will it stop raining?
It seems the UK won’t be getting extreme warm weather like last summer. Following record-breaking temperatures last month, the Met Office has stated that “no heatwave is on the cards” for the remainder of the summer.
“The UK is predominantly under the influence of low pressure, which is continuing a showery regime, with some potentially heavy and thundery showers possible at times through the week,” said Andy Page, chief meteorologist at the Met Office.
“While not everywhere in the UK will experience the heaviest downpours, it will remain an unsettled and relatively cool period, in stark contrast to the heat we experienced in June.”
The bad weather in the UK has come at a time of heatwaves across Europe.
A jet stream effect has brought cool air to the UK whereas the continent has seen hot African air.
Climate scientist Hannah Cloke told the Mirror: “I think we're very, very lucky because, otherwise, we’d be sitting in that hot African air. That’s really very dangerous indeed. The jet stream just happens to be in this position, which is bringing that cooler weather across the UK.
“Last summer, it wasn’t like that. We were experiencing that air being drawn off over the UK so easily. We could be in that situation again, where we see this really hot air come across the UK. We're certainly not ready for extreme heat here in the UK.”
