Heavy rain to sweep across the UK on Wednesday

Heavy rain will move across the whole of the UK on Wednesday, the Met Office says, ending a fine spell for many areas and bringing a fresher feel for the rest of the week.

Monday

Monday started with mist and fog patches in places, which cleared to leave a fine, dry day with long spells of sunshine, turning hazy at times. Blustery showers continued in north west Scotland.

Monday night

The night will start dry with clear skies and a chilly feel, but rain will quickly move into south east England, turning heavy at times. By the end of the night it will be largely cloudy across the south.

Tuesday

Tuesday will begin cloudy with outbreaks of drizzle. It will become increasingly windy, with gales in the north west. The east will be warmer, and heavy rain will arrive in the west later in the day.

Wednesday to Friday

"Heavy rain moves across the UK on Wednesday, bringing a fresher feel," the Met Office says. It will stay breezy afterwards, with a mix of sunny spells and showers.

What it means for the drought

The rain will bring some relief to gardens and farmland after a dry September, when England had only around 58 per cent of its normal rainfall by the 22nd. But the Environment Agency says it will take a sustained period of wet weather to refill reservoirs and restore river levels.

Travel

Heavy rain can cause spray and standing water on roads, especially on motorways such as the M6 and M42 around Birmingham. Drivers are advised to slow down, use dipped headlights and leave a bigger gap to the vehicle in front. Rail passengers should check for disruption before travelling.

Stay up to date

The Met Office will issue weather warnings if the rain or wind is expected to cause disruption. The latest forecasts and warnings are available on its website and app.