Rain is due to cross much of the UK after days of soaring temperatures
Thunderstorms and heavy downpours are due to hit the UK in a ‘big change’ in conditions after the end of the heatwave, the Met Office has said. It comes after record-breaking temperatures baked the country earlier this week.
Temperatures soared across the UK, with 35.1C measured in Kew Gardens, west London, and 32.9C recorded at Cardiff’s Bute Park, on Tuesday. On Sunday (May 31), Bushy Park in Richmond upon Thames saw the highest temperature of the day at 24.7C, the Met Office said.
But the weather is due to change from Monday, with heavy rain expected to cross the whole country, particularly in parts of Wales, forecasters have said, with thunderstorms and cooler weather to continue.
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Rebecca Mitchell, senior operational meteorologist at the weather service, 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.
“They’ll be around average for the time of year, which typically is around 17 to 19 degrees in the north and around 18 to 21 degrees in the south, so about 14 degrees lower in some places compared to the previous week.
“We’re not expecting too many impacts from this because it has been so dry recently for many places, and actually for some areas the rain will be welcome, I think, for gardeners, farmers, anyone hoping for some rain,” she said. “And then, following that, into Tuesday, we’ve got some heavy showers and potential thunderstorms.
“The main areas likely to see some thunderstorms would be central and southern areas, so Northern Ireland, northern England, southern England, and Wales.”
For the rest of the week, much of the county will see ‘unsettled weather’ along with some sunny spells and highs of low-20Cs, she said. The cooler conditions come after at least 15 people died during the heatwave after getting into difficulties in bodies of water, prompting emergency services to issue safety warnings.
On Sunday morning, South Yorkshire Police said a search remained ongoing at the River Don in Mexborough after the force had received reports that an 11-year-old boy had entered the water on Saturday evening but had not been seen getting out.
Officers were called to the scene at Ferry Boat Lane at 7.59pm on Saturday and emergency crews from the National Police Air Service, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Services also responded, police said.
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