UK weather maps show 20 counties face heavy rain during 'Spanish plume' – list

UK weather maps show 20 counties face heavy rain during 'Spanish plume' – list Weather forecasters say a 'Spanish plume' could develop next week and bring thunderstorms to the UK, with data suggesting some 20 counties face heavy rain Heavy rain and widespread thunderstorms are on the cards this coming week. The UKMO weather model suggests some parts of the country could see around 90mm of rain in total from now until Friday, a welcome relief following record dry spells and the declaration of drought status across parts of England and Wales. Areas in the east of England should see the most rain through the week, although the data suggests there will also be significant downpours in North Wales, the north-west, the Midlands and parts of the south-east. In total, the data suggests some 20 counties might see 40mm of rain up until Friday. They are all in England and Wales. UK counties facing heavy rain next week - Yorkshire - Lincolnshire - Nottinghamshire - Derbyshire - Leicestershire - Cheshire - Shropshire - Staffordshire - Warwickshire - Northamptonshire - Cambridgeshire - Norfolk - Suffolk - Essex - Sussex - Oxfordshire - Bedfordshire - Flintshire - Denbighshire - Caernarfonshire ‘Spanish plume’ heading to UK BBC Weather forecasters have said a “Spanish plume type of system” could bring “thundery outbreaks” across the UK next week. A Spanish plume is a meteorological term which refers to when warm air moving northward from Spain rises and cools, leading to the formation of thunder clouds. The Met Office explains: “As cooler air spreads from the west, instability increases and the very warm air rises through the cooler air, enhancing the formation of thunderstorms. “The very warm air from Spain forms a layer at height and acts as a lid, initially preventing warm air rising from the surface. However, as the air at the surface increases in temperature eventually it warms enough to break through this barrier and air can then rise from the surface up to the higher parts of the troposphere. “This air is very unstable and the dramatic release of energy that occurs results in the formation of cumulonimbus clouds, lightning, thunder, hail, downpours of rain and sometimes gusty winds.” The mercury is expected to reach 25C in southern areas on Monday and 22C in northern areas, before climbing to 26C in the south on Tuesday, followed by 28C on Wednesday. Conditions will then cool off as we head towards the weekend, forecasters say.