The Met Office has warned that thunderstorms and heavy downpours are set to hit the UK, marking a "big change" in weather conditions following the recent heatwave. The change comes after record-breaking temperatures earlier in the week, with 35.1C recorded in Kew Gardens, west London, and 32.9C in Cardiff's Bute Park on Tuesday.
On Sunday, Bushy Park in Richmond upon Thames saw the highest temperature of the day at 24.7C, according to the Met Office. However, the heatwave is now giving way to much cooler and unsettled conditions.
Heavy Rain and Thunderstorms Forecast
Rebecca Mitchell, senior operational meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "Going into next week, there is a big change on the way. We've got spells of rain, possible thunderstorms, and some strengthening winds through much of the week. The other part of the story is the temperatures will be much lower compared to the week just gone."
She added that temperatures will be around average for the time of year, typically 17 to 19 degrees in the north and 18 to 21 degrees in the south, which is about 14 degrees lower in some places compared to the previous week.
On Monday, heavy rain is expected to cross the whole country, with significant rainfall particularly in parts of Wales. Ms Mitchell noted that the rain may be welcome for gardeners and farmers due to the recent dry spell. On Tuesday, heavy showers and potential thunderstorms are forecast, with central and southern areas including Northern Ireland, northern England, southern England, and Wales most likely to be affected.
For the rest of the week, much of the country will see "unsettled weather" with some sunny spells and highs in the low-20s Celsius.
Heatwave Tragedies and Water Supply Issues
The cooler conditions come after at least 14 people died during the heatwave after getting into difficulties in bodies of water, prompting emergency services to issue safety warnings. In South Yorkshire, police are searching for an 11-year-old boy who entered the River Don in Mexborough on Saturday evening and has not been seen since. A multi-agency search involving the National Police Air Service, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, an underwater search team, and Mountain Rescue has so far not found the boy.
Police Constable Simon Bennett said: "As we have now lost daylight, the search has become more challenging and we will have to await first light to resume extensive search activities, but we aren't giving up – police officers will remain at the river Don overnight." He urged the public not to conduct their own searches for safety reasons.
Thousands of people in Kent were without drinking water or experienced disruptions over the weekend as South East Water continued to deal with issues following the hot weather. On Sunday evening, the company said supplies had been restored for most customers, though around 4,058 customers in areas including Whitstable, Coxheath, and Loose may still be experiencing low pressure or intermittent supply. The company apologised for the disruption and said it was working to resolve the issues.
