Harvest 2024: UK set for warmer, drier weather, but will it last?
17th July 2024
As barley, OSR and vining pea and bean harvesting gets underway in many areas, weather forecasts are indicating a spell of warmer weather – but there’s more rain to come.
After record-breaking rain throughout much of spring and summer this year, which has hampered field work, forecasts are suggesting parts of the UK could hit 30ºC on Friday (19th July).
It will be the first period of warm weather this month for much of the UK. However, it looks unlikely to signal the start of a heatwave.
Mostly dry weather and sunny spells are forecast until 21st July, though thundery showers are expected on Saturday (20th) and cooler, cloudier weather with some rain on Sunday, according to the Met Office.
Yellow heat health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency, for four out of nine regions in England. The warnings are in place from 5pm on 18th July and continuing until 11pm on 20th July.
The yellow alerts, which indicate adverse weather likely to affect vulnerable groups, are in place for:
- East Midlands
- East of England
- London
- South East.
The recent spell of warmer weather in many areas has allowed many to start harvesting barley, OSR and vining peas and beans, but many are still unable to get started due to rain, or are cutting at higher-than-ideal moisture levels.
READ MORE: Early harvest updates from around the UK and Ireland
A cool, wet July
July has thus far been largely cool and wet, with temperatures below or just in line with the seasonal average, according to the BBC.
Areas including Loftus, North Yorkshire have had more than twice the average rainfall this month.
However, some northern and western areas have been comparatively dry – including Castlederg, Northern Ireland and Machrihanish in western Scotland.
What’s the forecast for this week?
The Met Office is forecasting mostly dry weather with sunny spells from 17th – 21st July.
Outbreaks of rain across Northern Ireland and western Scotland will ease through tomorrow (18th July) and it will be largely dry with sunny spells elsewhere.
Friday will be mostly dry and very warm or hot, but thundery showers are predicted on Saturday (20th). It’s likely to remain hot in the east and southeast.
However, cooler, cloudier weather with some rain is expected on Sunday 21st.
READ MORE: Cambridgeshire farmer is one of first to start harvesting OSR
Longer-term outlook
Going into next week, rain will spread across much of the UK on Monday 22nd July – heaviest and most persistent in the north, with small amounts of rain in the south.
It’s expected there will be a longer-lived and more widespread spell of dry and sunny weather during the middle of next week.
Otherwise, the overall conditions from 22nd – 31st July will be changeable and similar to patterns that have dominated July so far.
Showers and occasional spells of more persistent rain are likely to affect all regions at times, but some drier and brighter interludes are also expected.
The most frequent spells of wet weather are most likely to be across northern and western areas.
Temperatures will be mostly close to average, with any warmer spells generally short-lived.
Read more arable news.
