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UK Forecast: 200-Mile Rain Bomb to Soak 25 Counties – Full List
Big 200-Mile Rain Cloud to Soak the UK Next Weekend (Easy Explain)
Published: 15:49, 11 Jul 2026 | Updated: 15:53, 11 Jul 2026
What’s the Big News?
The UK is getting ready for a huge band of rain — like a giant watery blanket — that could be about 200 miles long (actually, maps show it might be 220 miles!).
- Weather maps made by a group called WXCharts (using information from a data company named MetDesk) show this rainy streak will hit next weekend.
- Around 25 counties (think of counties like big neighborhoods or regions) are expected to get wet from heavy downpours.
- This news comes from the latest weather pictures shared by the DailyStar and others.
Important Callout: The rain is predicted for Sunday, July 19, and could stretch from Cumbria (up north) all the way to Northamptonshire (more central). That’s a massive 220-mile line of rain soaking many areas!
Why Now? The Heatwave Before the Rain
Right now, Britain is enjoying its third heatwave of the year. In kid words:
- Temperatures have shot up past 30°C (that’s really hot, like a sunny beach day).
- But this sunny, scorching spell might stop suddenly when the big rain arrives.
Where Exactly Will It Rain?
The weather pictures show that on July 19 (next Sunday), one massive rain band will go from Cumbria in North West England to Northamptonshire in the East Midlands.
Also, the East of England will see heavy showers. For example:
- Suffolk (a county in East England) may get up to 7.5mm of rain per hour — that’s like a medium-to-strong shower that wets you quickly.
- The Met Office (the UK’s official weather-watching group) has warned about possible thunderstorms starting from mid-July because the weather might become more wobbly and unpredictable.
Here is a picture of what the rain map looks like:
Image: WXCHARTS
And here are commuters with umbrellas, because rain is forecast next weekend:
Image: Getty
List of the 25 Counties Expecting Rain
These are the big areas (counties) that should grab their raincoats (numbered just like the original list):
- Devon
- Dorset
- London
- Surrey
- Suffolk
- Norfolk
- Essex
- Lincolnshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Northamptonshire
- Warwickshire
- Worcestershire
- herefordshire
- Shropshire
- Cheshire
- Merseyside
- Lancashire
- Cumbria
- Nottinghamshire
- Derbyshire
- Rutland
- Leicestershire
- Durham
- Hertfordshire
- Buckinghamshire
What Do the Weather Experts Say?
The Met Office gave a weather outlook for July 15 to 24. In simple words:
- At the start, there’s a "heavy air" (high pressure) to the northeast of the UK and a "light, rainy air" (low pressure) near the Bay of Biscay (a sea area by France). This means the north of the UK stays pretty calm, but the south might get thunderstorms coming from France at times.
- During the weekend, it might get more rainy from the south, then later calmer weather comes from the west.
- The week after is uncertain: cloudy skies and longer rain might threaten the northwest and maybe travel across the whole UK. (This was reported by the Express.)
They also said this exact quote about temperatures:
"Temperatures will be warm or very warm initially, perhaps hot at times in the southwest, likely easing to warm or near average over the weekend, though further hot spells possible especially in the south."
That means: It stays warm/hot at first, then cools a bit over the weekend, but could get hot again later, especially in southern UK.
Summary
To wrap it up like a cozy blanket:
- The UK is hot now (third heatwave, >30°C).
- Next weekend (especially Sunday July 19), a giant rain band ~220 miles long will soak 25 counties from Cumbria to Northamptonshire.
- East England, like Suffolk, gets heavy showers (up to 7.5mm/hr).
- Met Office warns of thunderstorms and changeable weather mid-July.
- After the rain, temperatures ease but may rise again in the south.
So if you live in those counties, keep an umbrella handy!
FAQ (Simple Questions & Answers)
1. What is a "rain bomb"?
It sounds scary, but it’s just a nickname for a very long, heavy band of rain — like a giant watery snake in the sky. No actual bombs!
2. When should I watch out for the rain?
The big rainy day is Sunday, July 19 (next weekend). Some showers might start earlier in the south.
3. Will there be lightning and thunder?
The Met Office says there’s a risk of thunderstorms from mid-July, especially in the south. So yes, possibly — stay safe indoors if you hear rumbles.
4. Which counties are on the list?
We listed 25 above, including London, Devon, Suffolk, Cumbria, and others. If you see your area there, expect wet weather.
5. Is the heatwave over for good?
Not necessarily. After the rain, it may cool to normal warmth, but hot spells could return, particularly in the south.
