Sea temperatures around the UK are higher than usual, with some areas seeing an extreme marine heatwave. This deviation from the norm will have consequences for our weather too.

Since early July, sea surface temperatures across north-western Europe, including the UK and Ireland, have been experiencing strong to severe marine heatwaves.

Sea surface anomalies off the coasts of Wales and England have reached as high as 5°C above average, while more widely temperatures are around 2°C above normal for the time of year.

While the immediate impacts of heatwaves in the water are felt by the marine life around our coasts, the unusually warm seas can also have a knock-on effect on our weather.

Over the coming weeks, elevated sea surface temperatures can result in higher humidity, warmer nights without as cooling sea breezes become less effective, heavier rainfall when frontal systems return, and stronger thunderstorms if conditions are right.

While there is little rainfall in the forecast right now, any system that does arrive will likely be enhanced thanks to the warmer and more humid air it travels over en-route to the UK and Ireland.