As parts of Canada and the United States grapple with lingering drought, rain finally broke over London, bringing relief to the capital after weeks of dryness.
Met Office forecast
London got its first "heavy rain" in weeks overnight with more showers predicted to be on the way for the drought‑hit city.
Londoners woke on Tuesday to puddles on the streets, while others celebrated as they heard the rain in the early hours.
According to the Met Office rain tracker, showers began sweeping across the capital from 3am, with as much as 32mm of rain per hour falling in parts of the city.
The tracker showed rain hitting most of the capital, some areas haven't seen any real rain for nearly two months.
Puddles could be seen on streets and pavements on Tuesday morning. It comes after England saw the driest July on record, with no meaningful rain in London.
According to Thames Water, the north of the capital saw zero rain while areas south of the river received just 1mm.
Across the Thames catchment area, just 0.8mm of rain was recorded, a mere 2% of the long‑term average.
The "flash drought" has left millions in London under a hosepipe ban as reservoir levels drop, while turning the capital's green spaces yellow and brown.
Similar drought conditions have strained water supplies in parts of western Canada and the western United States, prompting restrictions on outdoor watering.
The arrival of rain in London highlights how weather patterns can shift quickly, a reminder for Canadian and American municipalities facing prolonged dry spells.
Londoners took to social media to celebrate after the rain fell overnight.
Impact on parks and green spaces
Multiple forecasters are predicting more rain in the capital in the coming days, with further showers expected on Tuesday.
Light rain and showers could still fall during the morning rush hour on Tuesday, and forecasts from BBC Weather show light rain for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
The Met Office also predicts a chance of showers on those days.
The lack of rain this summer has put unprecedented pressure on London's cherished parks and beauty spots.
Earlier this month the head of gardens at Chiswick House and Gardens warned of "scorched" conditions.
Darren Share, director of parks at the Royal Parks, said the driest July on record and consecutive heatwaves showed it "is a moment of urgency".
Meanwhile there is a risk of hail, lightning and the potential for flash flooding in other parts of the UK.
Most of the showers will fall across parts of north-west England, Northern Ireland and southern Scotland, with some parts of south-east England staying dry.