Wednesday 19th August
The significant change in our weather was evident on Tuesday with variable cloud all day, with sunshine mainly limited to the morning, that resulted in the lowest UV light this month and the lowest evaporation of just 2.0mm this month. The maximum of 23.7C was logged before mid-day, rather than late afternoon when the heat usually builds, indicating the cloudy conditions. The maximum was still 2.1C above the August long-term average. There was far less variation between high and low over the past twenty-four hours, compared to earlier on the month, with a minimum of 15.1C at 05.33 being 3.3C above average.
As a gardener, desperate for some significant rainfall overnight, I was disappointed to find that little had fallen, the records show that around 02.10 just 0.4mm was logged, likewise the same quantity just after 03.00, whilst light drizzle was observed starting just before 07.00 that added another 0.2mm. Swindon had a substantial fall around 04.00 whilst the heavy and persistent rain band has been running along the south coast, south of Salisbury, and the Channel.
Wednesday arrived under total cloud cover thanks to the nearby depression, centred just off the northwest coast of Scotland, that is throwing weather fronts across the country, there will be two on Thursday that could enhance the showery activity. The barometric pressure has fallen further with a reading of 1006.8mb at 08.00, the lowest pressure this month and still falling slowly, as the centre of the low moves closer.
The Atlantic pattern of weather, with sunny intervals between considerable, variable cloud, will be brought on a westerly breeze for the next two days with possible showery activity arriving from time to time. By Friday the position of the depression to the east and the building high pressure to the west will direct a flow of northerly air across the country, which will result in temperatures likely falling just below average for the first time this month.
Public invited to choose future storm name as Met Office links up with Aardman
Author: Met Office
08:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 19 Aug 2026
The Met Office is inviting the public to decide whether beloved characters Shaun or Timmy should become a future storm name, as part of a collaboration with Aardman, the creators of Shaun the Sheep.
For the first time, weather enthusiasts, families and Shaun the Sheep fans will have the chance to vote for which Shaun the Sheep character joins the Met Office’s official storm names list for the 2026/27 storm season.
The public vote, hosted on Met Office social media channels from 19 to 21 August, will ask people to decide between Shaun and Timmy, with the chosen name included in this year’s list, which will be announced on Tuesday 1 September.
The collaboration brings together two iconic British organisations, combining the Met Office’s world-leading forecasting expertise with Aardman’s much-loved storytelling, to help more people understand why storms are named and how weather warnings help keep communities safe.
Storm naming is an important public safety tool, helping people notice, remember and discuss severe weather when it has the potential to cause significant impacts. By working with Aardman, the Met Office hopes to reach new audiences and encourage conversations about severe weather preparedness in an engaging and accessible way.
The announcement also forms part of Aardman’s 50th anniversary celebrations and comes ahead of the release of Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, which arrives in UK cinemas on 18 September.
