Does sunny St Swithin’s herald 40 more days of the heatwave?

THE St Swithin’s Day legend – which asserts that whatever weather conditions prevail on July 15 will continue for 40 days – usually signals a soggy summer for holidaymakers.

But after temperatures nearly hit the 90s yesterday, the folklore could mean we’re in for an epic heatwave to see out August.

england and Wales enjoyed a dry and sunny St Swithin’s Day with temperatures soaring to as high as 32C (89.6F).

But northern parts might not be so lucky after there was heavy rainfall in Scotland and northern Ireland.

Met Office forecaster Rachael West said england and Wales experienced ‘highs of between 31C and 32C’ on Sunday.

It was certainly dry and sizzling in the South east and London.

But there was a ‘real mixture of weather across the UK’, with clouds and some rain in northern Ireland and Scotland.

It comes as Britain basks in its hottest summer since 1976. england recorded its highest temperature of the year last week, with a peak reading of 90.1F (32.3C). However, heavy rain and thunderstorms are likely to hit parts of the UK this week – which would bring an end to the scorching stretch and shatter the St Swithin’s spell.

The forecaster added: ‘On Monday [today] it will remain warm across eastern parts of england, but some heavy showers and thunderstorms are forecast. For the rest of the week there will be sunny spells, but temperatures will begin to cool off... However, on Tuesday and Wednesday there is a risk of thunder and a few heavy showers across most parts.’

There have not been 40 straight dry nor 40 wet days following St Swithin’s Day since records began in 1861.