Showers are due to arrive tomorrow (Tuesday, August 4) and continue through Wednesday and Thursday, breaking what has been one of the driest and hottest spells in recent years.
Tuesday’s rain is set to come alongside temperatures of around 27°C, with local forecasts indicating a mix of light rain, sunny intervals and a moderate breeze through the day.
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On Wednesday (August 5) conditions should feel slightly fresher, with highs dropping to about 23°C but further outbreaks of rain still on the cards for parts of Oxfordshire.
By Thursday (August 6), temperatures are expected to fall again to roughly 21°C, with showers lingering but longer dry and bright spells beginning to return.
The wet weather follows an exceptionally dry spring and summer which has already prompted Thames Water to impose a temporary hosepipe ban across its region, including Oxfordshire, after repeated heatwaves and very limited downpours.
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Nationally, the Environment Agency has warned that large swathes of central, eastern and southern England have been experiencing prolonged dry weather, and ministers have been urged to prepare for the possibility of wider drought conditions if rains fail to materialise.
Locally, gardeners and farmers have reported parched ground and low river levels, with residents told to conserve water and avoid using hosepipes, sprinklers and jet washers until restrictions are lifted.
Despite the midweek showers, the broader outlook for Oxford suggests the weather will turn warmer and sunnier again heading into the weekend.
Forecasts currently point to highs of around 23°C on Friday, rising to about 24°C on both Saturday and Sunday, with plenty of sunshine.
