UK weather maps reveal exact date 500-mile wall of rain sees most of England 'disappear'

Britain is bracing for a washout weekend as a towering 500-mile wall of rain sweeps across the nation, with weather maps showing most of England blanketed in heavy rainfall. The latest forecasts from WXCharts show a significant Atlantic storm system moving in from the northwest on Saturday, 5 July, bringing with it widespread downpours and gusty winds.

A low-pressure centre, recorded at 997mb, is expected to hover off the west coast of Scotland, channelling a broad and intense band of rain southeastwards across the UK. The Met Office's long-range forecast has warned of a shift from brief, fine weather into a nationwide unsettled pattern, with cloud, heavy rain, and cooler conditions dominating through the weekend and into the following week.

"A transition to something more unsettled countrywide looks likely," the Met Office said. "Rain will always be most persistent on western hills, whilst some eastern areas in shelter could see warm and humid brighter breaks."

However, the WXCharts map for midday Saturday shows vast areas of England and Wales, stretching from Plymouth to London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Newcastle, completely obscured by widespread rainfall.

The blue tones across the chart makes England appear to "disappear" under the weather front.

The incoming system is also associated with tightly packed isobars, indicating strong winds likely to accompany the rain.

Commuters, festival-goers, and holidaymakers are being urged to prepare for difficult travel conditions, with potential for surface water flooding, reduced visibility, and disruptions on roads and rail.

Despite the grim outlook, forecasters note that temperatures will stay close to average for the time of year, and there remains a possibility of warmer conditions returning to the south later next week, as the pattern becomes more variable with alternating sunny spells and showery episodes.

For now, though, most of the UK will need to keep umbrellas close and outdoor plans flexible. While summer is in the calendar, the weekend weather may feel more like a return to early autumn.