Rainfall already above national average for the entire month

Scotland set for more rain, but heatwave forecast for south of England

Rainfall across the UK is already above the national average for August, with more on its way ahead of a heatwave for the south of England this weekend.

The Met Office said 94mm of rain has fallen across the UK between August 1 and 17, about 5% above the national average for the entire month.

The wet weather is forecast to clear up in the south of England by the weekend, where temperatures could soar to 29C.

During the first 17 days of August, England experienced 66.7mm of rain, which is 4% below its monthly average of 69.3mm.

However, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all saw above-average rainfall during the same period.

Met Office spokesman Nicola Maxey said: “We are at the midpoint (of the month), but in some cases, we have seen well above the average rainfall.

“Whether we are on track for a record-breaking month is too early to say.” She said the figure is still “a way off” the wettest August on record, which saw 167.6mm of rainfall in 1912.

While there will be a showery start to the week across the UK, it will become drier and warmer towards the weekend in the south of England, Ms Maxey said.

She said temperatures in the south east could reach 29C by Sunday or Monday, caused by an area of high pressure.

However, the north is likely to see more “wet and windy” conditions over the weekend, with temperatures reaching the low 20Cs.

Ms Maxey said while August is often perceived as a dry month, it is the wettest of the three months of summer.

The Met Office said between August 1 and 17 – which are the latest figures available– Scotland is already 14% above its monthly rainfall average, Wales is 8% above and Northern Ireland is 3% above its average.

Picture: Kim Cessford. Little more than half-way through the month, rainfall across the UK was already well above the national average.