Overview
- The Met Office says rain will begin first thing Wednesday in Northern Ireland, Wales and the South West before tracking northeast to central, eastern and northern England and parts of Scotland by the afternoon.
- Meteorologist Aidan McGivern attributed the change to a stronger‑than‑average, more southerly jet stream that is allowing low pressure to reach UK shores.
- Forecasters warned the downpours could make for a 'tricky rush hour' with heavy bursts, frequent showers later in the day and a risk of thunder in northern areas as noted by BBC Weather.
- Expected daytime highs are around 21°C in southern areas and about 19°C in northern areas, and the Met Office says brief bright spells may be followed by more returning showers.
- The wet spell follows a record May heatwave that topped 35°C in places, showing how shifts in the jet stream can quickly flip the UK from heat to unsettled, storm‑prone weather and raise risks of travel disruption and local flooding.