Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 21
UK Forecast Turns Drier With 25C Weekend Highs as Drought Still Intensifies
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 21

UK Forecast Turns Drier With 25C Weekend Highs as Drought Still Intensifies

3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 21

Summary

  • High pressure is building across the UK, bringing a largely drier weekend with sunny spells and Sunday highs of 19-25C in England and Wales and 16-20C in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
  • Friday stays cooler and unsettled first, with a few heavy or thundery showers still possible in England and Wales, while most of Scotland and Northern Ireland remain mostly dry.
  • Temperatures may drop to 3-4C in rural parts of Scotland and northern England on Friday night, before lighter winds help daytime readings recover to around or slightly above seasonal norms.
  • Over two-thirds of England and all of Wales remain in drought, and officials said this week's downpours—despite causing local flash flooding—were not enough to replenish reservoirs, rivers and groundwater.
  • The National Drought Group has shifted to weekly meetings from monthly, while forecasts point to rain returning next week but with a continued risk of further hot spells in September.

Insights

How are unprecedented 26C river temperatures quietly devastating aquatic life while the public celebrates a sunny weekend?
Despite recent floods, why are millions still facing strict water bans, and what does this mean for our future?