Folklore says a dry St Swithun’s day today means rain-free spell

People in England and Wales are in for a glorious dry summer if the legend of St Swithun’s Day is to be believed – but Scotland and Northern Ireland might not be so lucky.

The weather myth states that if it rains on July 15, wet weather will persist for 40 days and 40 nights.

England and Wales are set for a dry sunny St Swithun’s Day with temperatures soaring to as high as 89.6F, while heavy rain will fall in parts of Scotland and much of Northern Ireland.

In Suffolk, festival-goers were enjoying the sweltering heat at Latitude festival

In Suffolk, festival-goers were enjoying the sweltering heat at Latitude festival

Fans sit on dried on grass in 84F temperatures at Latitude festival in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk

Fans sit on dried on grass in 84F temperatures at Latitude festival in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk

Spectators watch the Wimbledon men's singles tennis final on a screen on a roof terrace next to St Paul's Cathedral in central London

Spectators watch the Wimbledon men’s singles tennis final on a screen on a roof terrace next to St Paul’s Cathedral in central London

But bookmakers Ladbrokes don’t seem to think the cure of St Swithun’s day will occur this year.  

Although splatters of rainfall are expected across parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland today, the bookies reckon it’s a 100/1 outside chance that rain now falls consecutively for 40 days and 40 nights. 

Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes said: ‘We’re hoping and praying that the odds are on the money. While the heatwave may not last all summer, it looks like moderate temperatures and sunshine will instead of rainfall.’  

Met Officer forecaster Rachael West allayed fears as she said people who have enjoyed a dry Sunday will probably see some showers over the next week, and vice versa.

‘Certainly some changes in forecast over the next week, never mind the next coming 40 days. But if people want to believe in St Swithin’s Day then that’s up to them,’ she joked.

Ms West said some people are probably pleased to see the rain, especially those in Northern Ireland where there is a hosepipe ban. 

A group of women sit along the beach and look out to sea in Poole Quay, Dorset, where temperatures have hit 81F

A group of women sit along the beach and look out to sea in Poole Quay, Dorset, where temperatures have hit 81F

Taking a dip? A group of friends sit on the beach and look out to sea as they bask in one of the hottest days of the year

Taking a dip? A group of friends sit on the beach and look out to sea as they bask in one of the hottest days of the year

People enjoy the hot weather at Poole Quay in Dorset where some take to the sea for a spot of windsurfing

People enjoy the hot weather at Poole Quay in Dorset where some take to the sea for a spot of windsurfing

Emma, Ellie and Ruth relax in the sunshine on the grass close to the London Eye, on the South Bank in London

Ruth relaxes in the sunshine on the grass close to the London Eye, on the South Bank in London

Ellie, Emma and Ruth relax in the sunshine on the South Bank in London as temperatures soar to 90F

Further south, Londoners could be basking in heats well into the 80s, which could mean Djokovic and Anderson will face off this afternoon in the hottest Wimbledon final for 20 years.  

Temperatures are set to hit 90F in SW19 as Novak Djokovic takes on Kevin Anderson in the Wimbledon men’s final. 

The tournament as a whole is set to be one of the hottest Wimbledons ever, breaking a record that has stood for 42 years. In 1976, the average daily temperature in south west London hit 87.5F while the hottest single day came in 2015 when the mercury hit a sweltering 96.3F.

Vintage festival goers dance in the sunshine on the quay Vintage festival, Poole, Dorset, UK

Vintage festival goers dance in the sunshine on the quay Vintage festival, Poole, Dorset

Vintage festival goers dance in the sunshine on the quay Vintage festival, Poole, Dorset

Vintage fans flock to the festival wearing their period outfits Vintage festival in Poole, Dorset as the sun shines on the seaside town

Vintage fans flock to the festival wearing their period outfits Vintage festival in Poole, Dorset as the sun shines on the seaside town

Jax Hall entertains the crowds Vintage festival

A fan holds a parasol and wicker bag in Poole

Vintage fans wear their best 50s style dress as Jax Hall (left) entertains the crowds in sunny Dorset

Wimbledon revellers will also be advised to stay hydrated while sitting in the courts and to consume less alcohol than they may have otherwise planned. 

In Suffolk, festival-goers were enjoying the sweltering heat at Latitude festival.  

The festival, which has now been running for 13 years, had comedy, arts and literature shows – alongside talks and debates on diversity topics.

Music fans today have been basking in heats of 84F as they get ready to see headliners alt-J this evening.

Groups in fancy dress and shorts danced and revelled in the heat at the park in Southwold, Suffolk.

A couple head out in the crystal blue water to fish on one of the sunniest days of the year

A couple head out in the crystal blue water to fish on one of the sunniest days of the year

A swimmer sinks into a donut ring in Poole Quay

A swimmer sinks into a donut ring in Poole Quay

Someone sets out to sea in Poole as the quay fills up with kayaks, yachts and superboats

Someone sets out to sea in Poole as the quay fills up with kayaks, yachts and superboats

Groups in fancy dress and shorts danced and revelled in the heat at the park in Southwold, Suffolk

Groups in fancy dress and shorts danced and revelled in the heat at the park in Southwold, Suffolk

Some fans opted for shorts and crop tops while revelling in the heat while others opted for big hats to cover themselves up

Some fans opted for shorts and crop tops while revelling in the heat while others opted for big hats to cover themselves up

Some fans opted for shorts and crop tops while revelling in the heat while others opted for big hats to cover themselves up

Fans sunbathe at Latitude festival ahead of alt-J's headline set this evening

Fans sunbathe at Latitude festival ahead of alt-J’s headline set this evening

A couple embrace at Latitude festival

Two young women stay hydrated at the festival

Staying hydrated! Music fans drink water and embrace each other while enjoying one of the hottest weekends of the year

A woman wears a flat cap and board shorts as she relaxes on the beach in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset

A woman wears a flat cap and board shorts as she relaxes on the beach in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset

All by myself! A man gets covered in mud and sand as the tide goes out in Somerset

All by myself! A man gets covered in mud and sand as the tide goes out in Somerset

A man rides a mobility scooter along the beach at Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, as hot weather continues across the UK on St Swithun's day

A man rides a mobility scooter along the beach at Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, as hot weather continues across the UK on St Swithun’s day

People relax on the beach at Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, as hot weather continues across the UK

Children enjoy a donkey ride on the beach at Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, as hot weather continues across the UK

People relax on the beach (left) and children ride donkeys (right) in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, as hot weather continues across the UK

Seagulls fly overhead as people relax on the beach at Weston-super-Mare, Somerset as the weather hits 81F

Seagulls fly overhead as people relax on the beach at Weston-super-Mare, Somerset as the weather hits 81F

People catch a tan and enjoy drinks and snacks at the beach in Weston-super-mare, Somerset

People catch a tan and enjoy drinks and snacks at the beach in Weston-super-mare, Somerset

Going for a dip: People head for a swim at Weston-super-mare and stroll out onto the beach

Going for a dip: People head for a swim at Weston-super-mare and stroll out onto the beach

People sunbathe on the beach in Weston-super-mare while others practise gymnastics and some sit on striped chairs

People sunbathe on the beach in Weston-super-mare while others practise gymnastics and some sit on striped chairs

A couple relax in the sunshine in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset as temperature rise into the 80s

A couple relax in the sunshine in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset as temperature rise into the 80s

People bathe on the beach and sink their feet into the sand while covering up their eyes and faces

People bathe on the beach and sink their feet into the sand while covering up their eyes and faces

Scotland and Northern Ireland will see rain but there will be warm sunshine across most of England and Wales, feeling particularly hot in the south east.

Tonight, rain will slowly spread into northwest England and Wales, and showers will hit the southwest of England by tomorrow morning – breaking the curse of St Swithun’s just one day in.  

Scotland and Northern Ireland will see their fortunes reversed too and see fresh and dry conditions tomorrow. 

The long dry spell has almost dried out the famous waterfalls which featured in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves for the first time in over 40 years as the heatwave continues across the UK.

Hikers are now able to walk across Aysgarth Falls, a triple flight of stunning waterfalls surrounded by forest and farmland in the Yorkshire Dales, after scorching temperatures and very little rainfall. 

 This comes as Britain is basking in its hottest summer since 1976 with the warm temperatures showing no signs of tailing off.   

The continued heatwave is also bad news for married people, according to a survey. 

The hot weather has caused a surge in married couples cheating on their partners.

Dramatic before and after pictures show the famous waterfalls before the heatwave and after, were people are able to walk across

Dramatic before and after pictures show the famous waterfalls before the heatwave and after, were people are able to walk across

Wimbledon guests - including the Royals - are advised to drink lots of waters as they revel in heats of up to 90F

Wimbledon guests – including the Royals – are advised to drink lots of waters as they revel in heats of up to 90F

Lewis Hamilton and Anna Wintour

Tiger Woods

Celebrities at Wimbledon will need to drink more water, consume less alcohol and wear suncream to protect themselves as they watch the hottest final match in 20 years (pictured Lewis Hamilton, Anna Wintour and Tiger Woods at Wimbledon yesterday)

The Met Office teased on Twitter this morning that if it rains today, it will rain for 40 nights, bad news for those in Northern Ireland and Scotland

The Met Office teased on Twitter this morning that if it rains today, it will rain for 40 nights, bad news for those in Northern Ireland and Scotland

The Met Office teased on Twitter this morning that if it rains today, it will rain for 40 nights, bad news for those in Northern Ireland and Scotland

The pollen count is set to be low across most of the UK today 

The pollen count is set to be low across most of the UK today 

A website for couples who want to have a fling has recorded a 20 per cent boost in memberships in the last month. 

There has been 19 percent increase in married men signing up to the site and an 18 per cent increase in women.

Victoria Milan, a dating site for married and attached people seeking extramarital affairs, also saw dramatic increase in cheeky chatter as the weather hotted up.

St Swithun statue at Norway's Stavanger Cathedral

St Swithun statue at Norway’s Stavanger Cathedral

Seven out of every ten cheaters increased their online activity according to the poll of 1,092 British male and female members.

Some 26 per cent said they could use pressing work issues as an excuse for secret trysts.

The site found bored wives are more likely to cheat than their husbands.

British wives who stray had an average 4.18 flings last year compared to men who had 4.06 flings.

Website CEO, Sigurd Vedal: said: ‘Most normal married couples are bored of each other, and when the summer holidays stretch out ahead, it makes cheaters want to contact their lovers more than usual.

‘We see a huge increase in online chats, and registrations have hit an all time high this summer.

‘People are looking for summer loving – but not at home.

‘If spring is known as the love season, we can say summer is the cheating season.

‘Every summer we see how signups increase in Victoria Milan site, and this year thanks to the continuous heatwaves in the UK we can confirm this increase is happening even earlier, in fact from May.

‘This shows how couples feel more open to seek extramarital affairs when the good weather is hitting the country.

‘We hope sun keeps heating up the UK and we’ll check in September if the trend is still going up.’  

The Met office says that much of England and Wales for the weekend will be hot and sunny but turning cloudier and fresher from the northwest.

Temperatures are set to reach the upper low 70s Farenheit through next week with highs of 86F to 88F possibly into next weekend.

 The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs predicts raised pollution levels into next week with southern, eastern, central and parts of northern England will be worst affected

Who was St Swithun and why will it not rain for 40 days? 

On the 15th of July, people watch the weather for a tradition that says whatever the weather is like on St. Swithun’s Day, it will continue for the next forty days. 

This means that if predicted high temperatures arise this Sunday, they will go on for 40 days, the same goes for rain if showers occur.

St Swithun (or Swithin) was an Anglo-Saxon bishop of Winchester, who died in AD862.

When he was made a saint in 971, his body was dug up and moved to an indoor shrine in the city’s cathedral.

Some writers claimed this outraged the heavens, causing rain to pour on the church and continue uninterrupted for 40 days.

But the Met Office said there had not been a record of 40 dry or 40 wet days following St Swithin’s Day since records began in 1861. 

 



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