UK weather: Rain set ease for weekend as sunshine returns

An examination of recent rainfall statistics reveals that certain areas in East Anglia and south-east England have experienced notably low precipitation levels. Specifically, in Essex, only about 20% of the typical spring rainfall has been recorded so far this year. During March, eastern and south-east England generally saw below-average rainfall, and the trend has continued into April with even drier conditions.

Data from the Met Office indicates that from April 1 to April 14, just 4.5mm of rain fell in these regions, a stark contrast to the usual 20mm expected during this period. Meanwhile, western Scotland has experienced a very different pattern, with rainfall amounts approximately double the normal level for April. March saw average rainfall across Scotland, but April brought a series of weather systems contributing to increased precipitation.

Throughout April, Scotland received an average of 70mm of rain, significantly above the 40mm typically expected by this point in the month. Although weather conditions can shift in the latter half of the spring season, forecasts suggest that the predominantly dry conditions observed in the southeast are likely to continue into the coming week.

This variability in rainfall follows a notable pattern from recent years. In 2025, droughts and restrictions such as hosepipe bans were widespread following the driest spring in five decades and the hottest summer on record. However, after one of the wettest winters since 1836, the Environment Agency reported in late March 2026 that eastern England remains the last part of the country still in the process of recovering to normal water conditions

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