Met Office forecasts fine start to week before heavy rain and thunderstorms arrive from Wednesday

The Met Office issued a national weather bulletin on 23 August 2026 warning that conditions would turn markedly more unsettled from midweek. A mostly calm start, then — after which heavy showers and thunderstorms become increasingly likely as the week wears on.

Kent falls within that national picture, so the county could well be in the firing line. But the bulletin offered no county-level detail. No specific towns, no flood warnings, no disruption figures — just the broad national picture.

Worth keeping in mind: this is a forecast risk, not a done deal. Wednesday onwards is a period of increasing likelihood, not certainty. Check back.

The South East England regional forecast is expected to follow the same broad pattern, with the Met Office advising residents across the region to monitor conditions as the week progresses. Readers seeking county-level updates for Kent — including any localised warnings or flood alerts — are encouraged to visit the Met Office website directly for the latest information.