London sees first rain in weeks amid drought

Londoners observed the first rain in weeks on the evening of July 30, following a prolonged dry spell and a series of summer heatwaves. The capital has been officially designated as being in drought, with Thames Water implementing a hosepipe ban for its customers.

The dry conditions have persisted for over a month, with the exception of a brief period of showers on July 5. This extended dry spell, combined with high temperatures, has contributed to what is described as a "flash drought" across parts of England.

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Rainfall patterns

According to the Met Office's rain tracker map, the initial rainfall began in the southwest of the capital at approximately 5:30 PM on July 30. The rain then moved across the southern parts of the city. However, the majority of areas recorded very small amounts of precipitation, with rates generally below 0.5mm per hour.

Reports indicated showers in specific locations, including Croydon and Richmond. Further rainfall is anticipated in the early hours of July 31. Following this, dry weather is forecast until the middle of the following week, with light rain showers expected daily for the remainder of that period.

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