02 August 2023 , 12:02
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One of the BBC's top weather presenters has given his verdict for the rest of the summer – and has offered a glimmer of hope for those of us hoping for a bit of sun.
Tomasz Schafernaker offered his latest thoughts on the UK's washout summer on Tuesday while revealing that he was an avid painter in his spare time, and said he had been given plenty of grey clouds for inspiration over the last few weeks.
Writing in the Daily Mail, he explained that poor weather throughout much of July and the start of August has been because of a "stuck" jet stream sending rain and high winds towards the British Isles.
Tomasz Schafernaker said conditions could improve in the middle of August (BBC)But he shared there were "hints in computer models that from the middle of August, or perhaps sooner, the jet stream will start to weaken and begin wafting farther north" - bringing a spell of potentially warmer, drier weather.
Tomasz warned however that this Wednesday would be marked by "abysmal" conditions, as the jet stream will "bring gales, downpours and thunderstorms" and likely flash flooding, especially on the south coast. He also said this year's rigid positioning of the jet stream was consistent with a pattern he had observed over the last two decades amid warming global temperatures where one "weather pattern digs in and stays put".
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The BBC weatherman's verdict comes after a Met Office outlook for August also suggested the second half of August may show some improvement in conditions - but warned that a heatwave remained unlikely. The national weather agency's long range forecast said: "August is likely to start generally unsettled, with showers and outbreaks of rain, these perhaps turning heavy and thundery at times. Changeable conditions are expected to continue through the week with a mixture of sunshine and showers, as well as spells of rain across the UK.
"The wettest conditions are likely to be across the west, while the southeast is likely to see the best of any drier interludes. A similar set up is possible through the following week, with northwestern parts of the UK seeing majority of unsettled conditions. There is a chance for winds to be strong at times, given the time of the year, especially in western areas. Temperatures are likely to remain below average, with chance of mild nights towards later."
Multiple Met Office weather warnings are also in place today as an "unseasonably deep area of low pressure" brings adverse conditions to large swathes of the country. One yellow warning for wind has issued for southern parts of England on Wednesday until 8pm, while Wales and central and northern parts of England have also been handed a thunderstorm warning.