Met Office map shows MASSIVE band of rain soaking UK next week just hours after hottest day of the year

A MASSIVE band of rain is set to soak the UK next week, only hours after Brits basked in the hottest day of the year. The relief from the prolonged dry weather comes as nearly three-quarters of England and the entirety of Wales faces drought. Brits are set to expect rain as soon as next week after consistently dry conditions Credit: Getty Rain is set to return to Britain from Monday evening into the early hours of Tuesday morning after weeks of high temperatures. Yesterday, Britain recorded its hottest day of the year, with staggering 38.1C temperatures reached in Kew Gardens, West London. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! This came as part of the fifth heatwave of the year, which saw extreme heat amber health alerts declared across large swathes of the country. However, the Met Office has forecast an incoming change to the dry conditions, with a band of rain making its way across the country next week. From Monday evening next week into Tuesday, there could be rain pushing into northern England and north Wales, with a chance it will descend further into the south of England. By around 10am on Tuesday, the weather is expected to have mostly cleared from across England, moving eastwards into Europe. Britain is set to be soaked by rain on Monday, August 17 at around 10pm Credit: MET Office By 10am on Tuesday, August 18, most of the rain is expected to have cleared Credit: MET Office This chance of rainfall comes as nearly three-quarters of England and all of Wales face drought status as a result of consistently dry conditions. According to the National Drought Group, England faced its driest July since records began 190 years ago, with parts of Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and West Sussex not experiencing rain for over two months. Most read in The Sun Over 1,000 wildfires were recorded across England and Wales in July and August, according to data shared by the National Fire Chiefs Council, as Prime Minister Andy Burnham pushes to ban disposable BBQs. In response to the drought and the dry conditions, over 27million Brits currently face hosepipe ban restrictions, which have been enforced by nine water companies to prevent unnecessary water use. No water company has confirmed when the restrictions will end, but it is anticipated for when water levels are replenished. Over the weekend, Northern Ireland, Scotland and potentially eastern England may also be hit by thunderstorms and heavy downpours, with a few showers expected for northern Scotland. Comment now