Met Office names 26 areas facing downpours on Thursday as weather maps turn blue

Met Office names 26 areas facing downpours on Thursday as weather maps turn blue Dozens of areas across the UK will face heavy downpours, with rainfall set to remain above average until early September Heavy downpours are set to hit 26 areas across the UK on Thursday as the Met Office warns thunderstorms are “likely each day” during a three-day unsettled spell. After months of record-breaking temperatures, drought and devastating wildfires, it seems the UK is at last getting some much-needed rain. Sporadic showers will develop tomorrow, the Met Office said, becoming heavy and thundery from the later afternoon and significant rainfall coming in from the south of England in the night. The weather will get worse from Wednesday, when an "unsettled period" will begin. Giving a forecast for Wednesday to Friday, the Met Office said: "Low pressure moving in from the southwest will bring an unsettled period, with heavy downpours and thunderstorms likely each day. Turning increasingly humid, with temperatures staying a little above average." Throughout the three days, most of England, Wales and Scotland will face heavy downpours, with Northern Ireland only facing some sporadic showers. The areas affected include cities like Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Bristol, Birmingham and Truro. Some rain will also reach Cardiff and Edinburgh and London will also experience similar weather. The rain appears to be the heaviest on Thursday, when the North East of England and the South West will be affected. As we move into the early morning, South West and South East Wales and Southampton will also face downpours of up to 32 mm/h. Most of the Midlands, the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber will be hit by similar conditions in the afternoon, with rain in some places reaching over 32 mm/h. Some lighter rain of up to 8 mm/h will cover parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland throughout the day. Areas affected by heavy downpours on Thursday North East of England - Tyne and Wear - County Durham - Northumberland North West England - Manchester - Merseyside Yorkshire and the Humber - Sheffield - Leeds South West England - Devon and Cornwall - Gloucestershire South East England - Southampton - Berkshire - Oxford East of England - Cambridgeshire West Midlands - Birmingham - Shropshire - Staffordshire East Midlands - Nottinghamshire - Derbyshire - Leicestershire London Wales - South West Wales - South East Wales - Mid Wales Scotland - Southeast Scotland - Perthshire - North East Scotland The weather will remain unsettled into September, with rainfall amounts forecast to be above average for this time of year. Regarding the August 29 - September 7 period, the Met Office said: "An unsettled start to this period, as showers or longer spells of rain are possible across many parts of the UK. "Some heavy rain is likely, perhaps with some thunderstorms too. It will likely remain changeable into early September, with rainfall amounts probably above average for the time year and the potential for some strong winds at times. "However, some drier, more settled interludes could develop at times. Temperatures are likely to be near average, although some short-lived warm or hot spells are possible, especially in the south."