Met Office issues warm weather update after grim start to summer

The Met Office has provided a summer weather update after a miserable start to July.

Following a warm end to June, the UK has experienced a mix of cloudy and rainy conditions so far this month. With the school holidays fast approaching, many families will be hoping for a spell of sunnier weather.

However, forecasters say there are no signs that it is likely to get much warmer over the coming weeks. The Met Office's long-range forecast indicates a higher chance of a wetter-than-average summer, with risks of heavy downpours and thunderstorms.

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Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: “For most of summer across the UK temperatures have been well below average, apart from a notable warm spell for some around the end of June. Rainfall across the UK is also a little below average, however, people living across the southern half of England will tell a different story for early July. Some areas reached their average July totals within the first ten days of the month.

“The longer range forecast doesn’t provide a strong signal for prolonged spells of warmer weather. Although there will inevitably be breaks in the unsettled regime, there isn’t a strong signal for more prolonged settled weather for the rest of July.”

A thunderstorm warning for parts of the UK is in place for today - the second warning in as many days. The yellow thunderstorm warning came into force at 12pm and will last until 11pm tonight and covers some parts of the North West, including parts of Lancashire and Cumbria.

Heading into the weekend, the Met Office is predicting sunshine and showers before a risk of rain moves across eastern areas later and into Saturday. Drier but cloudy weather is expected over the weekend, with some showers.