Temperatures to fall across Europe as substantial rain heading for parts of UK

Relief from the heat

This week brings relief from the unrelenting heat across western Europe, with temperatures expected to fall back towards the seasonal norm. As reported by The Guardian, some parts of the UK are set to be about 3C below normal by Thursday, and with a temperature drop of more than 15°C compared with last Thursday's heat, the shift will be palpable.

The change is driven by a cold front moving in from the Atlantic on Monday night into Tuesday, signalling more unsettled conditions. The Guardian notes that parts of southern England have experienced a prolonged dry spell, with a Met Office weather station in Wisley, Surrey, recording 62 consecutive days without rain. The last rainfall there, on 16 June, totalled just 0.4mm.

Rain and showers for the UK

As the week progresses, a low-pressure system moves across the UK from Wednesday into the weekend, bringing frequent showers and the potential for thundery downpours. The Guardian reports that even a few substantial bursts of rain will make a noticeable difference to the environment after such a dry spell.

The Manchester Evening News adds detail on a yellow weather warning issued by the Met Office for Greater Manchester covering 7pm Wednesday 19 August until 10am Thursday 20 August. The warning extends from Liverpool across to Newcastle upon Tyne, indicating the storms could lead to travel disruption and flash flooding in areas – although the impact is expected to be low.

The report states that heavy showers will develop in the North West towards Liverpool, becoming more frequent and widespread overnight. By 8pm, much of Greater Manchester will see some rainfall, with Stockport expected to see the highest rates, between 16 and over 32mm per hour. Other areas like Rochdale, Oldham, Bolton, Tameside and Wigan are set to receive between 4–16mm.

The forecast suggests that rain will ease and return at varying times until the warning ends at 10am. Temperatures in Greater Manchester are set to drop as low as 13°C overnight.

Europe: wetter ahead

Continental Europe is also expected to get wetter as the cold front sinks southwards into France and Germany on Wednesday, according to The Guardian. Farther south, rainfall may be more hit-and-miss, depending on showers and thunderstorms, with the risk rising from Thursday.

Heat and humidity persist in the US

While this side of the Atlantic cools down, the southern United States is continuing to endure extreme heat. The Guardian reports that extended heat warnings remain in place, with overnight lows not falling below 27–28°C. The lack of overnight relief is stark when compared to the UK’s highest overnight minimum during the late-June heatwave, which reached about 22–23°C.

High humidity is raising the heat index to levels that warrant such warnings, leading to apparent temperatures of 31–33°C as overnight lows. The National Weather Service has warned of “dangerously hot conditions”, with daytime heat index values potentially exceeding 46°C, particularly across Louisiana and Mississippi.

Summary

The week ahead marks a shift from the extreme heat towards a more typical autumn climate for Europe. It brings the welcome prospect of rain, especially to areas in the UK that have enjoyed unusually dry weather. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the extremes continue to hit southern US states, where the combination of temperature and humidity poses serious risks to residents.