Met Office confirms our worst fears – summer is cancelled

Don't get your hopes up for improved weather in August...

Festivals, the Ashes, and no doubt a few weddings and holidays have fallen victim to one of the most British summers we've had in a long time.

And if you're hoping for an upturn in summer weather fortunes as we approach the final weeks of the season, well, maybe stop reading now and take the 'ignorance is bliss' approach.

The Met Office has predicted that we're going to face plenty more rain in the coming days and weeks, saying there are "no strong signals" for any hot weather.

The weather service said: "Looking ahead to the rest of August there are currently no strong signals for any warmer or more settled weather, with the unsettled regime looking most likely to continue to dominate at least for the first half of the month.

"On balance, the greatest chance of seeing any brief, drier and slightly warmer interludes, would most likely be later in August.

"However, it looks fairly unlikely that we will see any prolonged or excessive heat, with the chance of heatwaves here in the UK being lower than some recent Augusts."

In the immediate future, a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms has been issued for pretty much everywhere between Manchester and London, with a yellow weather warning for wind in place on the south coast.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Steve Ramsdale said: "On Wednesday there is a chance of impacts both from rainfall and strong winds.

"Persistent rain feeding into eastern part of northern England in particular, sees the risk of some surface water flooding.

"There is also the potential for some heavy and thundery showers, which could be slow moving in places with a risk of hail, across central and southern areas.

"The stronger winds however are more limited to the south coast."

So, whatever you're doing this August, pack a brolly - the rain isn't going anywhere soon.

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