It looks like we’re set for a soggy few days, as weather forecasters are predicting that some parts of the UK could see a month’s worth of rainfall just this weekend alone.
While several places in mainland Europe are in the middle of a heatwave right now, and are currently battling with record-breaking temperatures, which also happened to be the case for us this same time last year, the UK can’t quite say the same this time around.
Here in Greater Manchester, we’ve had grey overcast skies, thunderstorms, blustery wind, heavy rain showers, and in fact, we would even go as far as to saying July has been pretty cold.
Put simply, it hasn’t been very summery at all – and this weekend looks absolutely no different.
According to weather forecasters at the Met Office, some parts of the UK – including higher ground in Northern England – could see up to a whopping 80mm of rain fall across Saturday and Sunday and into Monday, which is nearly the equivalent of a typical month’s rainfall in just a couple of days.
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🌧️ It's looking like a wet start to the weekend as low pressure brings rain to much of the UK on Saturday
🚗 This could cause some travel disruption, so make sure to plan your journey and keep up to date with the latest advice from @TheRAC_UKpic.twitter.com/YMeugi23F1
A typical month’s rainfall in July in the UK is 88mm, the Met Office says.
While Friday may see a few brighter spells developing into the afternoon, as we head into the weekend, the Met Office is predicting that things will turn “widely unsettled” across Northern England, with outbreaks of rain accompanied by strong winds to be expected.
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We should prepare for “heavy and possibly thundery showers”.
Some parts of the UK could see a month’s worth of rainfall this weekend / Credit: Instagram (@the.manc via @emmabeaumont10)
Weather experts also say the next few days will “feel slightly cool for the time of year”, with maximum temperatures reaching around 18°C.
It will then start to become “more humid” as Monday arrives.
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But why is all this rain hitting us now? And why is it so drastically different to what other European countries are experiencing right now?
Well, it’s all because the UK is on the other side of the jet stream that’s causing the current heatwave, which is what’s bringing those areas of low pressure and unsettled weather.
Want to know how the weather is looking near you this weekend? Here's Aidan with the forecast 👇 pic.twitter.com/XPrLmbWDnO
It doesn’t look like this turbulent weather time will be changing any time soon either, as forecasters say that while the jet stream remains “stuck” in its current pattern, neither the heatwave nor the unsettled UK weather are likely to change in the short-term, Sky News reports.
Stockport County’s Christmas dinner in a cup returns for 2025 as part of new festive food range
Danny Jones
We can’t believe it’s rolled around again already, but with the festive period well underway and the big day just a few weeks away, Stockport County have brought back their viral ‘Xmas dinner in a cup’for 2025.
Better still, the County Courtyard has seen some new Christmas specials added to its food menu, too.
The local football club are absolutely flying in League One at the moment, having spent plenty of time at the top of the table already and still well and truly contesting those promotion/play-off spots.
If you’re a Stopfordian, that’s plenty of cause for celebration right there, but with the Christmas dinner in a cup also up for grabs once more, the holiday season literally couldn’t taste any better right now.
For those who’ve never seen it before, it’s exactly what it says on the tin – well, cup: a little Sunday dinner in a County-branded takeaway coffee cup, complete with a healthy pour of gravy and pretty much all the trimmings you could hope for.
Yes, including sprouts, because all of you who still don’t touch them need to grow up already.
Currently priced at just £4.50, not only does it contain virtually all the major food groups (barring the customary matchday pints, of course), it might just be one of the healthiest and best value-for-money bits of footy scran around – certainly in Greater Manchester, anyway.
But, as mentioned, that’s not all this year; Stockport are also serving up the new festive hot dog and even a ‘leftover Christmas curry’ in a bowl, which might even be more warming on a cold night at Edgeley Park than the Xmas dinner in a cup or clinging onto a flask of Bovril.
Anyone else craving that curry with a cheeky bit of bubble and squeak now?
It’s also worth noting that you’ll only be able to get one of those on Boxing Day, by the way, when the Hatters host Lincoln City in the league.
As for the rest of it, County fans can get their hands on this seasonal scran for the first time this year at the weekend when Dave Challinor’s side take on Barnsley at 12:30pm, and two of the three specials will then be served at home every game over the holiday period.
Speaking of random Christmas food creations, there’s another limited-time-only and potentially divisive example that we’ll also be sampling this December…
Aldi has launched the world’s first lickable pigs in blankets wrapping paper… for some reason
Emily Sergeant
Aldi has launched its latest Christmas creation, and this one’s arguably wackier than anything else it’s brought out before.
There’s absolutely no denying that pigs in blankets are a staple of festive feasting, with millions of the little delicacies consumed throughout the UK each Christmas, but have you ever wished you could turn the taste of those pigs in blankets into a lickable wrapping paper to wrap all this year’s gifts in? Yeah probably not… Aldi‘s made it though.
It’s anticipated that more than 561 million pigs in blankets are going to be eaten over the festive period, new research has found, which is an average of 10 per person.
But if you just can’t bare to leave the taste of pigs in blankets behind, Aldi’s new wrapping paper is set to give shoppers a fun and tasty twist when it comes to gift-giving.
The limited-edition wrapping paper is inspired by Aldi’s very-own range of pigs in blankets, and is described as capturing the smoky, savoury flavour and smell of the festive treat, with stickers that peel back to reveal a truly unique ‘lickable’ experience.
Aldi has launched the world’s first lickable pigs in blankets wrapping paper / Credit: Simon Jacobs/PA Wire (via Aldi UK)
Not only does the novelty wrapping paper taste and smells like pigs in blankets, it also looks the part on presents too with its pastel pink design, festive holly, and snowflake patterns.
“Pigs in Blankets are a highlight of the festive season… so we wanted to create something special to celebrate the Christmas classic,” commented Julie Ashfield, who is the Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, as the new creation launches.
“This unique, lickable wrapping paper is the perfect way to spread extra joy on Christmas Day.”
Want to get your hands on it then? Unfortunately, it won’t be as simple as popping to your nearest Aldi store and picking up a roll, as with a creation as unique as this, there’s only going to be limited stock and a special shopper competition to win it.
To be in with a chance of winning, you simply need to email [email protected] with your full name before the deadline at 11:59pm on 1 December.
Emily Sergeant -
20th July 2023 
