Britain braced for heavy rain and hail after the hottest, driest summer in years left over 70% of England in drought

From the Newshound archive · first published 22 September 2026.

From Wednesday, the UK faces an onslaught of heavy rain, hail and strong winds as a slow-moving weather system advances from the northwest, drawing a line under weeks of exceptional warmth. Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Tony Wisson cited "uncertainty" about where exactly a frontal system would cross, with heavy rain potentially affecting eastern and southeastern Scotland and parts of northeastern England. Warm sunshine will linger across the south for now, before rain and strong winds push northward on Thursday.

The wet weather arrives despite more than 70% of England currently holding official drought status after an exceptionally hot, dry summer.

Northern Ireland and Scotland will be first to bear the brunt tonight, with heavy rain moving south through Wales and England on Wednesday.

Wisson urged the public to monitor Met Office updates closely as the track of Wednesday's frontal system remains uncertain.