When will it rain in the UK? Latest Met Office weather forecast with thunderstorms to come this week

THUNDERSTORMS are predicted to bring the first proper rain in weeks after the driest July in nearly 200 years. It comes as the mercury is set to hit highs of 35C today, leaving parts of England hotter than Greece. The Cerne Abbas Giant surrounded by a very dry hillside in Dorset as the UK heatwave and drought continues into August Credit: BNPS But thunderstorms could hit the South as early as this evening Credit: Paul Jacobs/pictureexclusive.com When will it rain in the UK? According to the Met Office, it started raining in Scotland this morning. Heavy rain north of the border is due to set in overnight and last through Tuesday morning. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! This evening brings the first hints of rain in southern England, with isolated thunderstorms possible. Elsewhere is forecast to stay cloudy with outbreaks of rain and a risk of thunder. Tuesday sees heavy rain push into the North with a risk of thunder and windy conditions. A yellow thunderstorm warning covers the whole of Northern Ireland from midday on Tuesday until 9pm. So the heaviest rain is heading for Scotland and the North, while the drought-hit South is set to see some showers before turning drier again from Thursday. The rain comes after the driest July since 1836, when King William IV was on the throne. Most read in The Sun Reservoir levels have dropped sharply, eight water companies have brought in hosepipe bans, and half of England has now been declared in drought. Tinder-dry ground also left fire crews stretched, with 208 wildfires tackled across England and Wales in under a fortnight last month. Met Office scientist Dr Emily Carlisle said: “The headline story for July is undoubtedly the rainfall. “Across parts of England and Wales, we’ve seen extraordinarily low totals, with some locations recording little or no meaningful rainfall for much of the month. “Provisional figures suggest this could be one of the driest Julys in nearly two centuries of records. “This is particularly notable when coupled with the exceptional heat experienced so far this summer.” Scorching temperatures are set to continue before ‘gradually cooling down’ Credit: Alamy How hot will it be this week? The Met Office has predicted soaring temperatures on Monday, followed by rain and a “gradual cooling down process”. Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said: “We’re going with a headline of 34C on Monday, but with a potential for local 35C in the South East, the Midlands into the low 30s as well. “So central and southern England, widely high 20s to low 30s, and approaching or if not touching, the mid 30s in the South East. “[Monday] is the peak of the heat – temperatures do come down a little bit, we’re still talking 28 to 30C on Tuesday. “Again, the South East and East Anglia we’re seeing the highest temperatures on Tuesday, so not as extreme as tomorrow, but still well above average.” He continued: “And then even by Wednesday, we’re looking at high 20s, 26 or 27C, in the South East. “But it’s a gradual cooling down process through the week, and always cooler towards the North and West in any case, high teens, low 20s, but certainly central and South East England seeing hot weather returning briefly, and a lot of sunshine to come in the South East as well.” The forecaster added that Wales is expected to reach the high 20s on Monday before cooling to the mid-20s in the following days. Scotland avoids the scorching temperatures altogether, with highs of just 19C today – around 15C cooler than the South East. Glasgow sees highs of 20C on Tuesday, before slipping back to 18C on Wednesday and Thursday, and 17C on Friday. Amber heat health alerts have been issued from 9am on Monday morning for the East Midlands, East of England, South East and London. The UK Health Security Agency has also issued a yellow alert for the North West, Yorkshire and The Humber, the West Midlands and the South West. Comment now