When will it stop raining? Met Office shares latest weather forecast and when sun will arrive in August as storms hit UK

If there’s one topic that’s sure to get everyone talking, it’s the weather. If it’s bad we moan and if it’s good we rejoice. Unfortunately, there’s been a lot more moaning than rejoicing in recent weeks as July, on the whole, was a washout for most of the UK.

We’ve had endless days of rain, and even storms, and it's felt rather dark and gloomy - with these conditions you’d be forgiven for thinking autumn has arrived already. So, the question on everyone’s lips is ‘when will it stop raining?’ There’s hope that in August, there will be a change in weather and instead of our umbrellas we’ll once again be reaching for our sun hats and suncream.

But, just what is the forecast for the rest of the week and also for the month of August - including that all important summer bank holiday? Here’s what the Met Office has to say.

Met Office weather for the rest of this week

Heavy rain and thunderstorms are set to lash most places across the UK until the end of this week after the country saw flooding on Wednesday (2 August).

Between 25 to 30mm of rain fell across parts of the north-east of England on Wednesday, while areas in London saw around 20mm, the Met Office said. Meanwhile, the south-coast was battered with winds up to 45 to 50mph.

On Friday (4 August), the Met Office forecasts dry and sunny spells for Wales and southwest England with heavy showers elsewhere with a risk of the odd rumble of thunder. Over the weekend it is set to be and windy on Saturday (5 August) with winds easing and weather conditions turning drier and brighter on Sunday (6 August) and Monday (7 August).

The Met Office added that there will be a “risk of showers throughout and staying cool.”

Amy Bokota, a Met Office forecaster, told the PA news agency: “Heading into Friday, areas in the south-west will see an improvement, parts of Cornwall and Wales will see a decent day with sunny spells, although along the east coast there will be a risk of showers and the odd rumble of thunder too.

“In the evening a low pressure system will start to show it’s cards in Northern Ireland before it’s all change on Saturday, turning much wetter and windier across many parts of the country.”

Met Office UK weather forecast for August?

Unfortunately, we shouldn’t all pack away our raincoats just yet, but neither should we put our sunglasses away, as the Met Office says the weather will remain mixed as we head into August.

The forecaster has pointed towards an easing of downpours later in August but conditions are unlikely to reach the sweltering temperatures of last year. Unsettled conditions are expected to persist through the start of August, with days of sunny spells and showers perhaps interspersed with periods of more persistent rain as low pressure systems move across the UK. 

In its long range forecast from 7 to 16 August the Met Office said temperatures will start off “generally cool” but should start to increase “especially in southern and perhaps eastern areas.”

The forecaster said in the middle of August there will be a “reduced chance” of low pressure dominating the weather pattern across the UK with most areas seeing “more in the way of drier interludes.”

For the second half of August from 17 to 31 August, there is a greater chance of more settled spells developing, with warmer and drier conditions becoming slightly more likely than the unseasonably unsettled weather of July suggesting some in England, Wales and Northern Ireland may see a sunny August bank holiday weekend.

However, the Met Office said unsettled conditions will never be “too far away” with spells of rain or showers for many from time time to “likely”.

The forecaster added that any prolongd dry or hot spells “appear to be unlikely” - dashing d any hopes of a heatwave. The Met Office has still warned that ‘extreme heat’ and summers exceeding 40C will become more common in the UK in the years ahead due to climate change.