Overview

• Low-pressure cyclonic systems are replacing the recent heat dome, unleashing heavy rain, flood alerts and thunder across Britain.
• The Met Office has issued a yellow thunderstorm warning for Northern Ireland with 30–40 mm of rain expected to cause travel disruption on Thursday.
• The Environment Agency has declared drought in the East and West Midlands and warns of widespread drought in England by September as hosepipe bans take effect.
• Residual heat energy will fuel humid, slow-moving thundery showers with hail and strong gusts during the weekend in parts of England and Wales.
• Models indicate a brief cool period before temperatures rebound to 30–32 °C from July 29, suggesting a possible fourth heatwave and changeable conditions into early August.