UK faces 10 dry days after wettest week in two years
High pressure brings settled weather following storms Austen and Bóelo, but forecasters warn wetter conditions may return by mid-November.
At a glance
- Storms Austen and Bóelo plus a low-pressure system caused the UK's wettest week in two years.
- High pressure will bring at least 10 days of settled, dry weather across the UK.
- Forecasters expect wetter, windier conditions to return around mid-November as El Niño intensifies.
The UK is set for at least 10 days of dry, settled weather after experiencing its wettest week in two years, according to the Environment Agency and BBC Weather.
Heavy rainfall from the season's first named storms, Austen and Bóelo, combined with a low-pressure system on Monday, delivered the highest weekly rainfall totals since 2022. Storm Bóelo was particularly notable for the volume of rain it brought.
A large area of high pressure now sits over or near the UK and is expected to remain in place for at least the next 10 days, bringing a marked contrast to the recent stormy conditions.
Outlook for mid-November
Forecasters say signs are emerging that high pressure could loosen its hold around mid-November, allowing Atlantic low-pressure systems to approach the country again. That shift would bring a return to wetter and windier weather, with most areas likely to see average or above-average rainfall.
El Niño influence
The developing El Niño event in the Pacific Ocean continues to intensify. It has been linked to wetter and stormier conditions in the UK during late autumn and early winter, suggesting the current dry spell may be a temporary pause in a more active weather pattern.
Source: BBC Science.
Questions and answers
- What caused the UK's wettest week in two years?
- Rainfall from named storms Austen and Bóelo, plus a low-pressure system on Monday, combined to produce the highest weekly totals since 2022.
- How long will the current dry spell last?
- High pressure is expected to remain over or near the UK for at least 10 days, bringing settled conditions.
- Will stormy weather return this autumn?
- Forecasters say high pressure may weaken around mid-November, allowing Atlantic lows to bring wetter and windier weather again.
