Met Office maps show Britain to be lashed by two days of heavy rain bringing heatwave to end

May’s record-breaking heatwave will come to an abrupt end with torrential downpours that could leave Britain drenched in heavy rain for two days.

The Met Office said Saturday was officially the end of the sweltering weather, with scattered showers and cooler temperatures on Sunday leading to more variable weather next week.

The forecaster’s maps show a blanket of heavy rain stretching across the UK, with between 2mm and 8mm falling every hour in some areas.

Rain will begin in the west just after 11pm on Sunday and move eastwards across the country before easing on Tuesday.

Scotland will see particularly heavy rain on Tuesday, with flooding of up to 16mm per hour possible in the morning hours.

Met Office chief forecaster Chris Bulmer said: “By the end of the week temperatures will be much closer to average for that time of year, accompanied by rainfall for many over the weekend and into the start of next week.”

Rain is expected to lash across the UK, becoming heavy at times in the west and breaking up with brighter intervals.

Compared to the extreme heat seen recently, temperatures are expected to drop to average during this period of the year.

Meteorologist Kathryn Chalk said in the latest forecast: “As we head into Monday, another area of ​​low pressure is coming in from the west and causing bursts of rain.

“This rain may actually be a welcome rain, especially for farmers and gardeners. It will be a sunny day with frequent showers as it will continue until Tuesday.”

According to forecasts, the rain will turn into small drizzle by 22:00 on Tuesday.

Mercury will drop into the late teens and early 20s, a marked difference from the sweltering highs seen in the UK last week.

It comes after the forecaster hinted at record-breaking temperatures for May, with a scorching 35.1 degrees recorded at Kew Gardens on Tuesday. This broke the record set the previous day at 34.8C; Originally the highest May temperature was 32.8C, recorded in 1922 and 1944.

Weather conditions are expected to become more unstable throughout the week, with the possibility of rain, showers and thunderstorms, and occasional hail.

Met Office’s five-day forecast for England

Today:

Sunny weather and isolated light showers in Northern Ireland, England and Wales. Heavy rain will change to sunny showers in northern Scotland, with a chance of afternoon thunderstorms in the north-east. Temperatures are above average in the east and southeast but cooler overall.

Tonight:

Rain and showers are easing across Scotland. During the night, clouds spread from the west, bringing rain to some parts, while most places in the east remain clear and dry. Lower temperatures.

Monday:

It is cloudy and the rain spreads from west to east, being especially heavy at times in the western parts. Then spells and showers follow. Winds are moderate to gusty, lighter in the north. Temperatures are close to normal.

Tuesday to Thursday:

Uncertainty continues throughout the week with heavy rain and thunderstorms. Hail is likely during thunderstorms and temperatures are much colder than in previous weeks.