Starting the new week with an unsettled spell
Author: Press Office
12:19 (UTC+1) on Sun 18 Aug 2024
The start of a new week is coinciding with a change in weather type.
Although Monday will begin a bright day for many, a weather front working its way in from the west will bring rain, firstly, to northern and western parts of the UK. By the end of the day most places across the UK can expect to see some rain; the driest conditions are likely to be in parts of south-eastern England. The heaviest rainfall is expected in parts of southwest Scotland where a Yellow rain warning will be in place from 2pm until the end of the day.
⚠️ Yellow weather warning issued ⚠️
— Met Office (@metoffice) August 18, 2024
Heavy rain across parts of southwest Scotland
Valid 1400 to 2359 Monday
Latest info 👉 https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs
Stay #WeatherAware⚠️ pic.twitter.com/mYnxAkIu2z
Andy Page is a Chief Meteorologist with the Met Office. He said: “During Monday, the band of rain will gradually move east across the UK. Within the warning area we can expect to see 25-35 mm of rain, with some of the wettest areas receiving up to 60 mm. The rain will be accompanied by strong southerly winds.”
Tuesday will see a temporary return to bright and breezy conditions with scattered showers, some of which will be heavy.
Turning unsettled
From Wednesday, weather conditions will turn unsettled once more. A Yellow rain warning is already in place for Wednesday and Thursday for parts of western Scotland. During the warning period the heavy rain – which could see 75-100 mm in places, and perhaps up to 150 mm on some western-facing slopes – will be accompanied by strong southwesterly winds. Gusts are expected to approach 50-60 mph, which could bring some coastal impacts, especially during the high spring tide.
Is Ex-hurricane Ernesto to blame?
Hurricane Ernesto - which has brought impacts to Bermuda – has now been downgraded to a Tropical Storm but may briefly regain strength into Monday. It will then weaken as it moves over the cooler waters of the north-west Atlantic during Tuesday. However, it will still contain a lot of energy as Deputy Chief Meteorologist Tony Wisson explains: “Newspaper headlines suggesting that Ernesto itself is set to batter Britain aren’t accurate. The once powerful system itself will break down before it reaches us, but the warmth and moisture it once contained will become entrained within a mid-latitude frontal weather system. This will lead to unsettled conditions for the UK, especially across the north and west, with heavy rain and strong winds expected here.” Tony continues: “Although August is usually associated with fine and settled weather, wet and windy weather such as this aren’t uncommon, as seen in previous years.”