The UK’s long wait for a “proper summer” has been struck another blow as a deluge of rain looks set to strike millions of Britons next month, according to new weather maps.
Huge swathes of the UK are set for a wash out on Tuesday, August 6, maps by WXCHARTS show, with major cities like Southampton, London, Birmingham and Manchester set for showers after a brutal heatwave next week.
Small patches of the British Isles will remain dry including Newcastle, though a wave of blue covers large stretches of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. An area spanning 400 miles, stretching from the north east of England down to Cornwall, will drench towns and cities up and down the country.
Belfast also looks set to avoid the downpour, according to data collected by the weather forecast site.
It looks like London be worst hit, with an instantaneous precipitation rate chart showing the capital hit with over 5mm of rain per hour by 12am that day.
Meanwhile, Birmingham will see up to 2mm per hour, with Manchester getting less than 1mm per hour.
But for many the rain will come as a relief after the near-30C temperatures expected next week, prompting a heat-health alert to be issued by the Met Office and the UK Health Security Agency.
The agencies warn deaths due to the heat are “likely” in South East England, East Anglia and London, especially in those aged 65 and over or people with health conditions. These impacts could also be seen in younger age groups, officials warned.
Demand on remote healthcare services is likely to increase while temperatures in hospitals and care homes could exceed recommended thresholds.
The heat might also affect workers and many places indoors are likely to overheat, leading to an increased risk to “vulnerable” people who either live independently or in care settings, according to the warning.
The East of England, South East England, and London are potentially set to see the worst impacts, while the agencies warn of probable “minor” issues affecting Yorkshire and the Humber, the Midlands, and South West England.
In North East and North West England, there is a potential for increased use of healthcare services by “vulnerable” people and an increased risk of mortality among the same population. It could also become very warm indoors, but the UKHSA says it is not expecting these outcomes.
Heat alerts are sent to every health trust provider of NHS commissioned care, local authority and social care organisation in England.
The yellow heat health alert is in effect from Monday (July 29) from 9am to Wednesday (July 31) at 11pm.
In its latest longer-range forecast covering July 30 to August 8, the Met Office says temperatures will probably be close to or slightly above average overall.
It says there is a likelihood of some very warm conditions developing in the south and possibly parts of the east at times.