This is Cornwall --
A wave of wet weather set to wash across the Westcountry this week has been cautiously welcomed by farmers whose livestock and land have suffered in the tinder dry conditions.
The region's longest heatwave in seven years, which has seen temperatures tip over 30 degrees, is to end today amid warnings of localised flooding as dust-dry ground is unable to absorb the downpours.
However, while tourism related businesses will be hoping for a rapid return to the sunshine, farmers are breathing a sigh of relief – provided as it doesn't herald another wash-out summer.
David Simmonds, of Hayle based Riviera Produce which markets around 40% of the cauliflower and spring greens grown in Cornwall, said some rain would be welcome.
"We do want a bit of rain, but certainly not a deluge like last year," he said.
He said vegetable sales had suffered in the hot weather as people turned to cold dishes.
"At the moment, the evidence is that the heat has been affecting sales more than anything as people don't want to eat vegetables.
"From our perspective, cooler weather will help sales and will help the produce.
"A nice bit of gentle rain is what's needed."
West Dorset based farmer Paul Harris, deputy chairman of the NFU's Regional Arable Board for the South West, said his crops would also benefit from a decent sprinkling of the wet stuff.
"As long as it's not massive thunderstorms, it would be good.
"A little bit of rain won't do any harm.
"What we do not want is big thunderstorms, hailstones and flooding.
"The crops have already been through extremes of weather this year so we don't need any more of that."
Mr Harris also supplies turf, a side of the business he said had suffered in the hot conditions.
"We are lifting it in a much reduced quantity," he said.
"We are telling people not to lay turf unless they have unlimited irrigation and by and large people have been following the advice."
The scorching conditions of June and July have left many farmers coping with lower yields or trying to keep livestock cool.
The lack of rainfall has also escalated fears of grass fires sweeping across rural farmland.
The Exeter based Met Office said some relief was on the horizon, but added that not everyone would see rain.
A spokesman said: "We do have a warning out that on Tuesday parts of Devon and Cornwall will see thundery showers," he said.
"However, not everyone will get the rain and in some parts of the region it will just remain cloudy.
"It won't be the unbroken sunshine that we have been experiencing."
The spokesman said that there would be some very heavy showers, but the worst affected areas would be to the east.
There is currently no weather warning issued for the Westcountry for Wednesday. Thursday is likely to be unsettled and afterwards the picture is one of dry fine weather will be mingled with some rain. Reported by This is 1 hour ago.
A wave of wet weather set to wash across the Westcountry this week has been cautiously welcomed by farmers whose livestock and land have suffered in the tinder dry conditions.
The region's longest heatwave in seven years, which has seen temperatures tip over 30 degrees, is to end today amid warnings of localised flooding as dust-dry ground is unable to absorb the downpours.
However, while tourism related businesses will be hoping for a rapid return to the sunshine, farmers are breathing a sigh of relief – provided as it doesn't herald another wash-out summer.
David Simmonds, of Hayle based Riviera Produce which markets around 40% of the cauliflower and spring greens grown in Cornwall, said some rain would be welcome.
"We do want a bit of rain, but certainly not a deluge like last year," he said.
He said vegetable sales had suffered in the hot weather as people turned to cold dishes.
"At the moment, the evidence is that the heat has been affecting sales more than anything as people don't want to eat vegetables.
"From our perspective, cooler weather will help sales and will help the produce.
"A nice bit of gentle rain is what's needed."
West Dorset based farmer Paul Harris, deputy chairman of the NFU's Regional Arable Board for the South West, said his crops would also benefit from a decent sprinkling of the wet stuff.
"As long as it's not massive thunderstorms, it would be good.
"A little bit of rain won't do any harm.
"What we do not want is big thunderstorms, hailstones and flooding.
"The crops have already been through extremes of weather this year so we don't need any more of that."
Mr Harris also supplies turf, a side of the business he said had suffered in the hot conditions.
"We are lifting it in a much reduced quantity," he said.
"We are telling people not to lay turf unless they have unlimited irrigation and by and large people have been following the advice."
The scorching conditions of June and July have left many farmers coping with lower yields or trying to keep livestock cool.
The lack of rainfall has also escalated fears of grass fires sweeping across rural farmland.
The Exeter based Met Office said some relief was on the horizon, but added that not everyone would see rain.
A spokesman said: "We do have a warning out that on Tuesday parts of Devon and Cornwall will see thundery showers," he said.
"However, not everyone will get the rain and in some parts of the region it will just remain cloudy.
"It won't be the unbroken sunshine that we have been experiencing."
The spokesman said that there would be some very heavy showers, but the worst affected areas would be to the east.
There is currently no weather warning issued for the Westcountry for Wednesday. Thursday is likely to be unsettled and afterwards the picture is one of dry fine weather will be mingled with some rain. Reported by This is 1 hour ago.