The rain is going to smell weird following the UK heatwave and the Met Office has explained why.
We've been experiencing temperatures of more than 30C in Leeds with rain forecasted to fall heavily tomorrow (August 16). This smell may become all too familiar in the coming days as a yellow weather warning has been put in place for thunderstorms.
There is a distinctive smell as it hits the pavement following a heatwave. Taking to social media, the Met Office has to clarify what causes the odd smell.
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Apparently this smell is due to an oil called petrichor, formed in soil by plants and bacteria. The Met Office said: "Petrichor is the name for the smell that accompanies the first rain after a period of dry weather.
"The smell is released from an oil in the ground. The oil comes from two sources. During dry spells it is produced by plants and bacteria in the soil.
"Scientists think the reason we like the smell is because cultures throughout history were so reliant on rain."
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