The Met Office has warned of heavy rain on Thursday (August 13) as the UK's heatwave, which saw temperatures approach 40C, comes to an end. According to the national forecaster's rainfall map, rain will begin in the northwest of Scotland at 1pm, then intensify over Northern Ireland (Belfast) at 4pm, with up to 8mm per hour. By 7pm, the rain band will move to south Scotland (Dumfries) and northwest England (Carlisle), and by 10pm it will reach the east coast, covering Carlisle and Newcastle. Showers in central Scotland (Glasgow) could bring up to 16mm per hour.
Heatwave peak and forecast
Temperatures are expected to peak in the mid-30s Celsius on Wednesday and Thursday, with forecasts of 36C in East Anglia and southeast England on Thursday. Deputy Chief Forecaster Mike Silverstone said: "Temperatures will climb through the weekend and, more significantly, through much of next week. After a brief dip on Monday, high pressure will move across the UK before settling to the east, allowing a southerly flow to develop. A fairly widespread heatwave is likely across large parts of England and Wales, with hot conditions developing in places."
Five-day forecast
Today: Cloudy and wet across Northern Ireland, southern Scotland and northern England, with rain easing later. Bright spells and a few showers in northern Scotland, otherwise dry and very warm with sunshine elsewhere.
Tonight: Rain moves southwards across northern England, weakening, with clear spells and a few showers in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Monday: Cloud and spots of rain in central areas clear southwards, leaving a largely dry day with sunny spells, slightly cooler but still warm in the south.
Outlook for Tuesday to Thursday: Largely dry and sunny, though some rain may move into western Scotland and Northern Ireland. Warm for most, increasingly hot across the south.
