Met Office names 22 areas facing heavy rain this Sunday as heatwave ends – see full list

Met Office names 22 areas facing heavy rain this Sunday as heatwave ends – see full list The Met Office understands a band of low pressure will sweep eastwards across the UK this weekend, leading to the heaviest rain across parts of the East of England The Met Office has identified 22 regions which will experience heavy rainfall this weekend — marking an abrupt end to the latest hot spell. The band of low pressure is set to sweep eastwards across the country, which will also send temperatures plunging. The mercury hit 28.6C in Pershore, Worcestershire, on Monday but 16C or 17C is more likely by Sunday lunchtime. And the downpours will be heaviest across parts of northern England during the daytime on Sunday, and then will linger across the East of England during Sunday evening. Elsewhere, showers are likely, including across the Midlands. But it has been a particularly dry July and June, and so the rain will be a welcome relief for many. It has become so concerning more than 18 million people are set to be affected by a hosepipe ban this week. These climate extremes are becoming "the new normal," according to the Met Office. Mike Kendon, Met Office climate information scientist, said last week: "2025 was the UK’s warmest year on record, the sixth time this record has been broken in the 21st Century so far. The last four years are all in the top five warmest years. With warming at around 0.25°C per decade since the 1980s, it seems likely this record will be broken again in a matter of years." The unsettled period, though, will continue into next week. Rain is anticipated on Monday, with the heaviest burst likely across northwest Scotland. As the Express reports, temperatures are not expected to reach balmy levels seen this week or last week. It was 31.3C in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, and 30.8 in Usk, Monmouthshire, on Friday. In its long-range forecast for the period, the national weather service stated: "A changeable period is likely overall, with many areas likely to see a mixture of bright or sunny spells and some rain at times. "Northwestern areas are more likely to see the focus of rainfall, but southeastern areas should also see some showers. Confidence becomes lower as we approach the turn of the month, but there are hints that high pressure could return for a time, which would mean dry conditions resuming, especially in the south. "Winds will be mostly light or moderate, but occasionally fresh or strong around some coasts, mainly in the north. Temperatures will be near or above normal, warmest in the south, and perhaps becoming very warm again by the start of August." The 22 areas expected to see heavy rain this Sunday; England - Cornwall - Devon - Somerset - Wiltshire - Hampshire - Oxfordshire - Buckinghamshire - Essex - Hertfordshire - Kent - East Sussex - Warwickshire - Lincolnshire Northern Ireland - County Antrim - County Down - Derry Scotland - Scottish Borders - Stirling - Moray Wales - Conwy - Gwynedd - Ceredigion Met Office five-day forecast This Evening and Tonight: Rather cloudy across the north tonight with further outbreaks of light rain feeding onto windward coasts, and perhaps the odd shower clipping East Anglia too. Otherwise, long clear spells with the odd fog patch possible in prone spots. Wednesday: Staying cloudy and cool in the far north on Wednesday with light showers possible. Dry and sunny elsewhere with some very warm sunshine. Outlook for Thursday to Saturday: Remaining settled through to Friday with patchy cloud and showers in the north. Very warm in the south. Outbreaks of more widespread rain push into the north on Saturday.