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.
Peter Kay adds MORE hometown charity gigs in aid of Bolton Hospice
Danny Jones
Local comedy icon Peter Kay has added even more homecoming charity gigs, adding some extra shows at the historic Albert Halls.
You can guarantee these tickets will be snapped up quicker than you can say garlic bread.
Performing on behalf of his hometown’s Bolton Hospice, the Lancashire legend and stand-up veteran might be winding down his hugely successful career on stage, but not before raising as much money for charity as possible.
Confirmed on Monday, 13 July, a further four ‘Peter Kay: Better Late Than Never (Again!)’ dates have been tacked on the regional tour run – but there’s a catch.
Yes, in case you missed the initial announcement back in April, the 53-year-old from Farnworth is only catering to his native Boltonians.
With seats being made exclusive to those with specific postcodes only – after all, his previous record-breaking tour saw people all over the country treated to plenty of dates – this latest update gives them even more of a chance of getting tickets.
Speaking ahead of the sets scheduled for early next year, Peter says, “There was such a big demand for tickets for the shows that I really want to do more and give the people who missed out the chance to come along.”
If you want to check if you’re eligible to grab one, you can read more down below.
The Phoenix Nights and Max and Paddy creator goes on to add: “I’m putting on four more shows in the New Year and playing at the weekend means I can also perform matinees, as well as evening shows and increase funds for the hospice, which is what it’s all about.”
Kay has already raised huge sums for various charities throughout his career, and with all proceeds from these upcoming performances going to the organisation, these funds can make such a difference in so many lives.
Adding matinee and evening slots on Saturday and Sunday, 9-10 January 2027 (3:30 and 7:30pm), respectively, the quartet of additional comedy shows go on sale at 10am this Friday, 17 July.
A Wigan dad is searching for the ‘hero’ who helped calm his son’s panic attack while on a busy train
Emily Sergeant
A former rugby player from Wigan is searching for the ‘hero’ who came to his son’s aid when he was having a panic attack on a busy train.
Shaun Ainscough – a former rugby player who played for Wigan Warriors at the start of his career from 2009-10 – was on a packed train home from the match between his former team and St Helens at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday 5 July when his son started having a panic attack.
The 11-year-old boy was crying, screaming, shaking, taking his clothes off, and begging to get off the hot train carriage that was full of people travelling home from the match.
“All the fans [on the train] were singing and we were having a laugh, although because we were all stood up, we literally couldn’t sit anywhere,” Shaun explained to the BBC in an interview.
Shaun says he then became overwhelmed with emotion himself as he saw his son in distress, to the point where he also started crying.
But then, a woman – whose name is still unknown – came to the rescue and spent the entire rest of the journey trying to calm the boy, reassuring him with words and using a handheld fan to calm him down.
Shaun has since put out a post on social media – which has been seen by thousands of people – asking for the woman to come forward, as the pair are desperate to thank her in person and ‘give her some flowers’.
“It might not have seemed like a big deal to her but the small act was massive and we just want to say thank you,” Shaun explained.
“She could read something over text, but in person means so much more, and maybe we could give her some flowers just to show how much we appreciated her that day.”
He concluded: “This hero came over and ended up being the strongest person on the train.”
Emily Sergeant -
20th July 2023 
