UK could see 10 days without rain after 'wettest week in two years'

The UK is on track to experience up to 10 consecutive days without rain following a wet week that saw its heaviest rainfall in two years due to storms Austen and Boelo. As high pressure returns, a prolonged period of dry and calm weather is expected, with minimal rain in the foreseeable future. Mist and fog will dominate, particularly in the mornings, but light winds should accompany clearer skies as darkness falls.

However, travelers may face reduced visibility and travel disruptions due to lingering fog. For those planning Halloween festivities, Saturday evening is likely to remain mostly dry, though a few rain showers could dampen celebrations in the Western Isles of Scotland. Temperatures are expected to drop slightly, making the weather feel cooler, especially during the evenings and early mornings.

The current dry spell stands in stark contrast to the stormy conditions from just a week prior, when the UK witnessed its first named storms of the season, Austen and Boelo, which brought much-needed rainfall. The Environment Agency reports that rainfall from these storms, along with another low-pressure system, resulted in the wettest week in the UK for two years.

While the high-pressure system will persist over the UK for at least 10 days, a shift could occur around mid-November as high pressure weakens, allowing Atlantic low-pressure systems to return. This would bring a return of wetter and windier weather, with most areas potentially seeing average or above-average rainfall. The link between the intensifying El Niño event in the Pacific and increased wet and stormy weather in the UK during late autumn and early winter is also being considered.