Britain's fourth heatwave of the summer is set to come to a wet end, with forecasters predicting five days of rain across much of the country.
After temperatures reached the mid-30s in the south east this week, and half of England was declared a drought zone, the start of August will bring widespread rain. Torrential downpours are expected in one of the UK's holiday hotspots, Devon and Cornwall.
Ten regions in line for rain
According to BBC Weather maps, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, north west England, north east England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the Midlands will see rain on Monday. The following day, the south west of England, the south east and London, and East Anglia are also set to see precipitation, taking the number of affected regions to 10.
The Met Office's long range forecast for Tuesday, August 4, to Thursday, August 13, said: "A generally rather changeable period looks likely, with many places likely to see some much needed rain or showers at times but also some more sunshine.
"Initially, some heavy rain looks likely across the northeast, with some showers elsewhere. After a drier, brighter few days, further unsettled conditions may develop for a while, these perhaps more likely towards more southern parts of the UK.
"Thereafter, further spells of dry, warm, sunny weather and cooler, wetter and breezier weather look likely as we head towards mid-August."
Heaviest downpours
Met Office weather maps released for the period until Tuesday evening show rain arriving in Northern Ireland and Wales late on Sunday evening, August 2. The band then spreads north-eastwards towards the Midlands, northern England and Scotland throughout Monday.
On Monday, the heaviest rain is predicted in the Scottish borders, with 16-32mm expected near Kendoon Loch. Heavy rain is also forecast for Glasgow.
Tuesday is expected to be wetter. The south east of England and London will see some much needed rain in the early hours, while torrential downpours are predicted across Devon and Cornwall.
More than 32mm of rain is forecast to hit the south west early on Tuesday morning, with the seaside towns of St Ives, Newquay and Bude bearing the brunt. Dartmoor will also see similar downpours.
Rain a relief for drought-hit areas
BBC Weather then predicts rain will continue for four more days, including London, with particularly wet conditions expected in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The rain will be a welcome relief for millions living in drought conditions. Half of England is now a drought zone, with seven regions named as suffering "flash drought" on Wednesday, July 29, after only 7 percent of the typical July rainfall was recorded.
The seven flash drought regions are East Anglia; Hertfordshire and the whole of London; Thames Valley; Hampshire and the Isle of Wight; Devon and Cornwall; West Midlands; and Wessex, covering Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and south Gloucestershire.
A further six English regions are in "prolonged dry weather", the stage before drought. They are Kent and East Sussex; Cumbria and Lancashire; Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire; East Midlands; Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire; and the rest of Solent and the South Downs.
Only Yorkshire and the north east are the areas of England not expected to dry up.
