As you know from previous posts, the UK lies beneath a boundary seperating low pressure and cool air to the west, northwest from high pressure and very warm, humid air to the southeast. This boundary running across the country is now seeing a wave of energy spread heavy, thundery rains up from Devon and Cornwall through Wales with the eastern edge of this precip plume pushing through Liverpool and Manchester will by mid afternoon spread into Northwest England and eventually Southern and Central Scotland by early evening. Thanks to the thermal contrast and cooler air flowing in overtop of warm from the west, expect these rains to become energetic, supporting enhanced upward motion and so downpours with embedded thunderstorms will cause issues. We’re seeing with the above radar capture off WeatherOnline that there’s some heavy thunderstorms out over the Irish Sea and also off Wales. This, if it doesn’t weaken will pack a punch across Cumbria and eventually Southwest Scotland. Flooding is possible along with poor driving conditions.

These rains will continue feeding up from the southwest but easing from south to north through this evening once daytime heating shuts off.

Interestingly, there are storms just west of Paris and these are now crossing the Channel and working towards London. This will shutdown the heat prematurely for some but I believe as you head east towards Suffolk, like yesterday we’ll see a continuation of hot sunshine and continued warming through the afternoon.

East Anglia along with Northern France, Belgium and Netherlands are on track for hottest day in years, Records may tumble

As for how hot it could get in Southeast England, following a warm, juicy start, the blowtorch is spreading northwards from France. It’s looking like we are still on track for hotter than yesterday with Paris pushing towards the peak levels seen in 2003 of 102 with an outside chance at pushing their all-time record of 104.

Temps as of early afternoon are now up at 93 in Paris, upper 80s in Belgium and Netherlands and low 80s in parts of Southeast England.

Tags: hot uk weather august 2012, uk heat august 2012