- The UK is experiencing its first meaningful rainfall in several months following a summer of heatwaves, although forecasters warn the incoming showers will not immediately resolve the ongoing drought.
- According to the Met Office, the rainfall will be highly variable and showery across the country, with early data showing up to 23mm recorded in central southern Lancashire and 13mm in Northern Ireland.
- Temperatures across large parts of the UK are expected to fall below average for this time of year on Thursday, coming shortly after the fifth heatwave of the summer saw peak temperatures of 38.1C at Kew Gardens.
- Wessex Water has implemented its first hosepipe ban in 50 years, affecting 1.4 million customers across Bath, Somerset, Dorset, and Wiltshire, bringing the total number of people in England under water restrictions to over 27 million.
- Thames Water reported that London reservoir storage remains below expected levels at 74 per cent capacity following extremely low July rainfall, despite recent reductions in daily household water usage.
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