UK weather: Brits to be battered by ‘thunder showers & heavy rain’ as temperatures drop after hottest day of the year

BRITS are set to be battered by “thundery showers” and heavy rain as temperatures continue to drop following the hottest day of the year. Wet conditions are expected to hit the UK after a spell of dry weather left nearly three-quarters of England and the entirety of Wales facing drought. The UK is set to be soaked in rain this week after a record-breaking summer Credit: PA Rainy weather will spread across the country in the coming days Credit: BBC The Met Office has now said that this week, showers are expected to fall across parts of North West England, Northern Ireland and southern Scotland. However, some parts of South East England will be staying dry despite the unsettled conditions, the national forecaster said. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Where the heaviest showers do fall, there is a risk of hail, lightning and the potential for flash flooding, the Met Office added. Temperatures for most of the UK will also drop below average for the first time in weeks, according to the forecaster. Wet weather will be on the cards from Wednesday Credit: Met Office There has barely been any rain in recent weeks Credit: PA England and Wales can expect temperatures of 18C to 22C by Thursday, a stark difference to the hot spells as the mercury soared last week. Meanwhile, Scotland and Northern Ireland can expect highs of 13C to 18C. Today’s weather will be cloudy for many but there will be outbreaks of rain in the west and heavier showers across the far north of Scotland, said the Met Office. On Wednesday, heavy, frequent showers across Scotland will spread more widely throughout the day, with some “potentially turning thundery”. Most read in The Sun There are also showers on the cards across north-west England and Northern Ireland, according to the national forecaster. From Thursday the rain is forecast to become widespread and heavy with a risk of thunderstorms. Some of the showers on Thursday will be very heavy and slow-moving, with the risk of hail, lightning and localised flooding. Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan: “I can’t promise rain for all of us through the week ahead, but in the south at least, it’s looking like the most changeable week we’ve seen here, well at least since the end of June.” “A jet stream which has been far in the north of the UK has allowed high pressure to dominate, causing the recent excessively hot conditions”, Mr Morgan said. Mr Morgan said it would travel south, meaning that low pressure will dominate, adding: “So a much more changeable and at times unsettled outlook through the middle part of the week – low pressure will dominate and slowly drift its way southwards.” But despite the imminent wet weather, summer may not be fully over just yet. The Met Office has said there could be another heatwave for the UK, bringing a warm September to Brits. From August 31 to September 14, sun-seekers can get their shades back on as hot spells likely to take over the country, according to Met Office predictions. However, as with all long range forecasts, there is a lot of uncertainty at this stage. The UK recently experienced its fifth heatwave of the summer with the hottest day of the year recorded in Kew Gardens, London, on Thursday when temperatures reached 38.1C. UK 5 day weather forecast Today Cloudy for many, with outbreaks of rain, mainly in the west, and some heavier bursts across the far north of Scotland. Sunny spells will develop from the west, while showers affect Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England. Feeling slightly cooler. Tonight Some sunny spells will linger across the far south this evening, but cloud will thicken from the west, with outbreaks of drizzle developing across much of England and Wales. Wednesday Rain will soon clear the far southeast, with sunny spells developing widely. Heavy, frequent showers across Scotland will spread more widely through the day, with some potentially turning thundery. Outlook for Thursday to Saturday A northerly wind develops for the next few days, allowing temperatures to drop below average. Thunder showers for Thursday and Friday, but brighter and drier for Saturday. Comment now