The June monsoon is making a late arrival this year, bringing an end to the recent hot weather. With the transition taking place today, there'll be some heavy rain and thunderstorms for parts of the UK.
It'll be turning cooler and fresher in the West through the day today, as Atlantic systems move in. This change marks the beginning of the Westerly June monsoon, an important singularity, as these winds can often set the predominant weather pattern for much of the remainder of the summer. But its timing varies, usually arriving in the second week of June, making it a little later this year.
Bursts of rain, some heavy, have already reached Northern Ireland and the Western Isles, this spreading to other more western areas through the morning. This'll be followed by cooler, fresher weather across Northern Ireland, although still with a scattering of showers. Top temperatures across the province just 17 to 19C. It'll then be the turn of the North West and West Scotland to see some rain, locally heavy, perhaps with thunder. But towards South Wales and the South West, the rain will be lighter and more patchy, before it begins to turn somewhat cooler and fresher from the West. Top temperatures here 21 to 24C.
Away from Northern Ireland, it's been a 'muggy' night, with the thermometer not falling much below 20C in places. But most parts are starting fine with some sunshine, and apart from the odd shower over East Scotland, it's dry. It'll quickly become very warm or hot and 'sticky', with temperatures reaching a 'stifling' 30 to 32C across parts of East Anglia and the South East, and 26 to 29C more generally.
The heat will 'trigger' a few showers through the afternoon, mostly East of the Pennines and across eastern Scotland. Some North of the Wash will be heavy, with a few thunderstorms giving hail and local torrential downpours that could cause 'flash' flooding. But rainfall amounts will vary, with much of the South and South East seeing little, if any, rain. Winds from the South or South East will be gusty near any storms, before 'veering' Westerly in the West that'll herald the arrival of cooler, fresher weather.
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for today.
Showers and storms across the East and North East clear away into the North Sea after dark, leaving clearer skies overnight. It becomes mainly dry, although Northern Ireland and the North and the West will continue to see a few showers. But the main thing you'll notice is that it'll feel fresher in a Westerly breeze, making it a much better night for sleeping. Nevertheless, minimum temperatures of 10 to 12C in the North and 13 to 15C further South will still be above normal for the time of year.
The new working week sees the return of our more traditional weather from the South West, bringing somewhat lower temperatures and a fresher feel as low pressure in the Atlantic plays more of a role.
There'll be sunny spells, especially in the East and South, and while some cloud will build to give the odd shower, the emphasis will be on dry weather. Later in the day, Northern Ireland may see some rain moving in, with cloud tending to increase in the West through the afternoon. In a fresher day, particularly for the East and South, expect top temperatures of 18 to 24C, in a mostly moderate South Westerly breeze.
After a fine evening in the East, cloud increases after dark. This'll bring some rain, chiefly to the North and West, in a mostly light or moderate South Westerly breeze. But towards the South East, you have a better chance of it staying dry, with lowest temperatures mostly in the range 10 to 15C again.
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