Brace yourselves, London is in for a soaking following St Swithin’s Day downpours. In bad news for anyone hoping for a scorching rest of the summer, weather experts have hinted that the famous British weather legend might just come true this year.
The age-old rhyme warns that if it pours on July 15, we’re in for a long haul of wet weather – 40 days, to be exact. For those not familiar with the legend, it says: “St. Swithin’s day if thou dost rain, For forty days it will remain. St. Swithin’s day if thou be fair, For forty days ’twill rain nae mair.”
Unfortunately, forecasters are suggesting there’s some truth to the legend this time around, predicting a deluge this afternoon and a damp outlook for the weeks ahead. Brian Gaze from The Weather Outlook has shared his rather gloomy prediction, commenting: “It looks like there will be some truth in the St Swithin’s Day folklore this year. It doesn’t look good for school holidays.”
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He added that after Monday’s expected rainfall, we should brace for more bouts of low pressure and even an unsettled August. Echoing the sentiment, a Met Office spokesperson confirmed the dreary forecast, stating: “It stays unsettled, with low pressure. And from July 27 to August 10, changeable periods are also likely.”
The legend of St Swithin says that when he was exhumed and reburied amid rain showers on July 15, 971, it led to 40 subsequent days of rain, reports the Daily Star. Thankfully though, records show that there has not been a 40-day long period of rain following St Swithin’s Day in the UK since records began in 1861, so hopefully there is still a bit of sunshine to come.
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