May’s record-breaking heatwave will be brought to an abrupt end by torrential downpours that could see Britain lashed by two days of heavy rain.
The Met Office said Saturday officially marked the end of the sweltering weather, and scattered showers and lower temperatures on Sunday would make way for more changeable weather next week.
Maps from the forecaster show a blanket of heavy rain stretching across the UK, which could see between 2mm and 8mm dumped on some areas 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 will see particularly heavy rain on Tuesday, with deluges of up to 16mm per hour in the morning.
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.”
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 come back down to the average for this time of the year when compared with the excessive heat recently seen.
Meteorologist Kathryn Chalk said 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.”
By 10pm on Tuesday, the rain will have cleared up into small patches of drizzle, according to the forecast.
The mercury is set to drop to the late teens and early 20s, a marked difference from the sweltering highs the UK has seen over the past week.
It comes after the forecaster marked record-breaking temperatures for May with a scorching 35.1C recorded in Kew Gardens on Tuesday. This broke the record set the day before at 34.8C; originally, the highest May temperature had been 32.8C, recorded in 1922 and 1944.
Further unsettled conditions are predicted throughout the week, with spells of rain, showers and thunderstorms and a chance of hail in parts.
Met Office five-day forecast for the UK
Today:
Sunny spells in Northern Ireland, England and Wales with isolated light showers. Northern Scotland 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 staying clear and dry. Lower temperatures.
Monday:
Cloud and rain spreading eastwards from the west, heavy at times, especially 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.
