Britain's record-breaking May heatwave will come to an abrupt end as torrential downpours lash the country for two days. The Met Office has confirmed that Saturday marked the final day of sweltering temperatures, with scattered showers and cooler conditions on Sunday paving the way for more unsettled weather next week.
Heavy Rain Forecast
Weather maps from the Met Office show a blanket of heavy rain stretching across the UK, with some areas expected to receive between 2mm and 8mm of rainfall every hour. The drenching will sweep in from the west just after 11pm on Sunday, moving eastward across the country before easing on Tuesday. Scotland is likely to see particularly intense rain on Tuesday, with deluges of up to 16mm per hour in the morning.
Met Office Statement
Met Office chief forecaster Chris Bulmer said: "By the weekend, temperatures should be much closer to average for the time of year with accompanying rainfall for many through the weekend and into the start of next week." He added that spells of rain will move across the UK, expected to be heavy at times across the west, broken up with brighter intervals. Temperatures are expected to return to average for this time of year compared with the excessive heat recently seen.
Meteorologist Kathryn Chalk noted in the latest forecast: "As we go through Monday, another area of low pressure arrives from the west, bringing outbreaks of rain. This rain might actually be some welcome rainfall, especially for farmers and gardeners. As that clears its way through into Tuesday, it'll be a day of sunny spells and frequent showers."
Temperature Drop
By 10pm on Tuesday, the rain will have cleared into small patches of drizzle, according to the forecast. The mercury is set to drop to the late teens and early 20s Celsius, a marked difference from the sweltering highs seen over the past week. This follows the Met Office's record-breaking May temperatures, with a scorching 35.1°C recorded in Kew Gardens on Tuesday, breaking the previous record of 34.8°C set the day before. The previous highest May temperature was 32.8°C, recorded in 1922 and 1944.
Further Unsettled Conditions
Further unsettled conditions are predicted throughout the week, with spells of rain, showers, and thunderstorms, along with a chance of hail in some parts.
Five-Day Forecast
Today: Sunny spells in Northern Ireland, England, and Wales with isolated light showers. Northern Scotland will see heavy rain clearing to sunshine and showers, with a chance of afternoon thunderstorms in the northeast. Temperatures above average in the east and southeast but cooler overall.
Tonight: Rain and showers across Scotland easing. Cloud spreading in from the west overnight, bringing rain for some, while most places in the east stay clear and dry. Lower temperatures.
Monday: Cloud and rain spreading eastwards from the west, heavy at times, especially in western areas. Later spells and showers follow. Moderate to fresh winds, lighter in the north. Temperatures near normal.
Tuesday to Thursday: Staying unsettled through the week with spells of rain, showers, and thunderstorms. Hail is likely in any thundery outbreaks, with temperatures much cooler than last week.
