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​Heatwave Could Last Another 40 Days, According to Folklore

​Heatwave Could Last Another 40 Days, According to Folklore

According to tradition, if it rains on St Swithun's Day (15 July), it will continue for 40 days... which sounds a bit rubbish.

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

While poor old Australia is battling freezing temperatures, over in the UK things have been more than just a little bit peachy - something that could well continue for a while longer, if we're to believe folklore.

According to tradition, if it rains on St Swithun's Day (15 July), it will continue for 40 days... which sounds a bit rubbish.

As the proverb goes:

St Swithun's Day if thou dost rain
For 40 days it will remain
St Swithun's Day if thou be fair
For 40 days 'twill rain nae
mare

But look out of your window! We're betting it's looking pretty nice out there, isn't it? Unless you're in certain parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland, where a bit of rain could be heading your way.

Despite the splatters of rain in some place, the bookies reckon there's a 100/1 outside chance that we'll have to endure rain 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."

And it seems as though the Met Office isn't just writing it off as mythical mumbo jumbo, either, tweeting about the tradition while asking people which outcome they'd prefer.

While some of us are still enjoying this wonderfully balmy long summer, others said they're gagging for a bit of rainfall.

One person commented: "Well, I don't want it to rain for 40 days. But my garden needs some reprieve."

Another wrote: "It is so parched here, yellow grass and wilting plants, we need RAIN!"

Someone else said: "Rain. I have had enough of the heat. It's okay if you are on holiday but trying to do stuff and sweating is enormously unpleasant."

Luckily for them, Met Office forecaster Rachael West said people who've enjoyed a dry Sunday today will probably be getting some showers over the coming week.

She said: "Certainly some changes in forecast over the next week, never mind the next coming 40 days. But if people want to believe in St Swithun's Day then that's up to them."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Weather, UK News, News, UK