Heatwave broken by torrential showers
Parts of the UK had almost a month’s rainfall in just a few hours yesterday as the heatwave gave way to thunderstorms.
Temperatures dropped by up to 10 degrees from Friday’s highs – peaking at 20C in Scotland and 24C in England.
More than 3in of rain fell in Belfast between noon and 4pm yesterday, nearing the July average for Northern Ireland.
Parts of Scotland also endured heavy bursts of rain. In Fife, the weather caused major hold- ups on the approach to the Queensferry Crossing.
The downpours came just hours after the Scottish Environment Protection Agency said it would take a month of “exceptional” rainfall to address a “significant water scarcity” in north-east Scotland, the northern Highlands and the Clyde, Ayr and Irvine areas.
It also followed warnings by a Beechgrove Garden presenter that beer production could be hit by the extended heatwave.
George Anderson said he had detected signs of wheat and barley crops “bleaching”, adding: “This could be a bad sign for beer.”
The National Farmers’ Union said the hot weather could halve the barley crop.
Meanwhile, a Tom Jones concert at York Racecourse was called off on Friday night because of thunder and lightning.
It was due to be the 78-year-old singer’s first gig after he had to pull out of five dates due to illness.