Concerns have emerged about Hurricane Erin possibly delivering a 600-mile stretch of rainfall to the UK, following a state of emergency declaration in certain parts of North Carolina, USA.

Over 38,000 individuals were under mandatory evacuation orders as of Monday, with the beaches along the Outer Banks expected to experience waves as high as 20 feet by Tuesday.

The hurricane has escalated to a Category four status, sparking fears of perilous surf conditions and rip currents along the US’s eastern shores.

Rains caused by the storm have already begun to hit the south-eastern Bahamas, alongside the Turks and Caicos Islands. 

The UK experienced its fifth warmest July on record this year, with almost 1,200 hours of sunshine recorded, according to the Met Office. 

On Friday, temperatures reached 30°C in London as firefighters grappled with a lack of resources amid the ongoing warm weather.

But now, this could be all set to change – with ‘weakened’ remnants of Hurricane Erin set to bring wet and windy conditions to the UK.

Though still over 3,000 miles distant, the storm, as it progresses through the North Atlantic, could result in a higher likelihood of intense winds and rain, particularly affecting southern and western regions, potentially bringing heavy and thundery conditions.

The Met Office continued: ‘One of the determining factors of the forecast through this period will be the behaviour of what is currently Tropical Storm Erin as it progresses into the Northern Atlantic; this being quite a typical source of uncertainty in the late summer.’

However, Meteorologist Simon King stressed to the BBC that the so-called ‘wall of rain’ simply means that any low pressure containing remains of the strong storm would be 600 miles wide as it moves across to the west of the UK.

The result, he said, is that next week’s weather could ‘turn a little more unsettled’ with the storm set to ‘weaken as it moves across the North Atlantic and arrives to the west of the UK  as an area of low pressure’. 

While heat from Europe is set to see high temperatures climbing to 28C from Tuesday, Hurricane Erin is set to cause both wet and windy weather from Bank Holiday Monday, specifically for parts of the North and West.

Following this, more soggy Atlantic low pressure systems are likely, with Hurricane Erin predicted to suck some warmth to the South.

A Met Office forecaster said that while ‘sunny spells’ are expected for the start of this week, the weather is set to change. 

They added: ‘After a cooler couple of days, widely fine and dry conditions and increasing temperatures are then expected.

‘But a deep area of low pressure linked to Erin is likely to develop in the North Atlantic, with the final week of August possibly seeing Atlantic systems progress over the UK, especially in the North and West. There is a small chance of widely wetter and windier weather.’

Meanwhile, Netweather forecaster Nick Finnis said: ‘Remnants of Hurricane Erin are forecast to bring a change to unsettled conditions for parts of the UK late in the Bank Holiday weekend.’

This week, temperatures are set to vary widely from 18-22C, with a few areas in the West Midlands likely to reach 24C, the Met Office has said.

On Tuesday, low cloud will retreat towards the east and northeast of the UK, where patchy drizzle remains possible. 

Some warm sunshine is set to develop elsewhere, with scattered showers, perhaps thundery, across southwest England.

Meanwhile, the middle and end of this week looks mostly dry and settled, with some warm sunshine likely.

However, eastern areas will continue to see cooler and cloudier weather for the foreseeable, the forecaster added. 

The Met Office has issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms in the north-eastern Scotland, which could see up to 70mm of rain fall in two hours.

The warning has also been issued for Northern Ireland, which could also see up to 50mm of rain.

The warnings are in place until 10pm on Thursday. In Scotland, flood alerts have also been issued.

The Met Office has warned of difficult driving conditions and possible disruption to public transport and power supplies, and of a risk of flooding to homes and businesses.

The forecaster also said fast-flowing or deep floodwater could pose a danger to life.

Heavy rain and thunder hit London and Kent on Wednesday.

However, officials have said England is suffering from ‘nationally significant’ water shortfalls.

The national drought group, which includes the Met Office, regulators, government, water companies and other organisations, has met as five areas of the country remain in drought, with six more in prolonged dry weather status.

Hurricane Erin briefly reached Category five status on Saturday, with Richard Pasch, of the NHC, describing it as a ‘major hurricane’ with a ‘fluctuating’ intensity. 

The storm is expected to affect the Tri-State Area from Tuesday through Thursday, particularly along the Jersey Shore and Long Island’s South Shore.

Coastal communities, including New York City beaches, could face rip currents, high surf with waves up to 12 feet, flooding, beach erosion, and wind gusts of 20 to 40 mph.

On Sunday, North Carolina officials ordered evacuations for Hatteras Island, including the unincorporated villages of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras.

‘Now is the time to secure property, finalize plans, and evacuate with belongings,’ officials wrote on Facebook.

‘Please follow instructions from officials and property managers.’