Most of the UK faces a largely dry week at the start of November, even though parts of the South West and Sussex remain in severe drought. Forecasters say high pressure will dominate, bringing settled weather with only scattered showers, after England recorded its wettest week for two years.

North-west recovers, south stays in drought

All of north-west England, including Greater Manchester and Cumbria, was moved to recovery status on Wednesday, the Environment Agency said. That change followed heavy rain linked to Storms Austen and Boelo. Severe drought remains, however, across parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex. Much of Wales also remains in drought after the UK's hottest summer since records began in 1884, according to PA reporting.

What the coming week looks like

Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said high pressure would be bad news for southern regions already facing severe drought conditions for several months. Patchy rain in the south was expected to clear on Sunday evening, with mostly dry conditions and sunny spells on Monday, although showers in northern, eastern and south-eastern areas could be heaviest in the far South East. Temperatures are expected to stay near average for early November, with chilly starts and a fresh easterly breeze at times in the south.

How much rain is still needed

The Environment Agency says at least 120% of average rainfall over the next six months is needed for the whole country to be out of drought by next spring. The dry pattern is also expected to shape Bonfire Night on Thursday, with celebrations able to go ahead but smoke possibly trapping poor visibility at times under high pressure. A yellow fog warning across parts of England and Wales was in place until Sunday morning, with visibility below 100 metres in some dense patches, Travel and Tour World reports from the Met Office warning.