The heatwave is over for the time being, with some spectacular thunderstorms helping to bring it to an end. The heat is set to return later next week though.
Flash; bang; wallop and the heat wave has gone as heavy showers, and the remnants of overnight storms over central Scotland move into the North of Scotland for a while before clearing away. Not everywhere has seen the storms however but for most, there has at least been some rain to help the beleaguered farmers and gardeners, with more on the menu this weekend in a very unsettled and at times windy period. A complete change of fortune before the heat returns later next week.
The first thing you'll notice this morning is how much fresher it feels, with the rain and still the odd thunderstorm over Scotland clearing to showery weather from the South through the afternoon. Northern Ireland, Wales and the North and West of England have a day of sunny intervals and blustery showers, heaviest and most frequent in the West.
Any remaining storms at first this morning towards the East coast and across the South East will clear away into the North Sea, but there'll continue to be scattered showers over remaining parts of England, with East Anglia and the South East seeing fewer showers where some parts could have a reasonably pleasant afternoon.
A storm forecast has been issued for today - click here to read it.
It'll be noticeably breezier than of late especially in the West, where a moderate or fresh South to South West wind will be strong at times, touching gale force in the heavier more squally showers. Although cooler, it'll still be warm in the East and South where temperatures should reach 22 to 24C, with 18 to 21C more likely in the West and over Northern Ireland. Over northern Scotland, an East wind will make it misty especially along North Sea coasts, before becoming variable then southerly as showery weather moves up from the South. Although still humid in the North at first all parts eventually turn fresher, with top temperatures across Scotland of 15 to 19C well down on yesterdays values.
The evening sees the showers largely fading from England, Wales and eventually Northern Ireland, allowing a few clear intervals to develop mostly in the East. A southerly breeze will also decrease somewhat, and it'll be much fresher for sleeping as temperatures fall to 11 to 16C. Later in the night though increasing cloud will be bringing bursts of rain to the South West and much of Wales by morning. Across Scotland, there’ll be further showers heaviest and most frequent in the West. A southerly wind will also be quite blustery giving strong gusts in the West in a fresher evening and night here, with lowest temperatures 10 to 13C.
Sunday should begin bright in the East, but it'll soon become very unsettled as frontal systems move in from the South West. These will bring more welcome rain eventually to all parts, although the rain could be somewhat lighter and patchy in the East.
A southerly wind will freshen to become strong or gale force in exposed areas for a while. Over Scotland showers mostly in the North and West should be followed by a brief lull, before southern and central parts turn wet. Through the afternoon, however, Northern Ireland and the far West should see somewhat of an improvement to sunny intervals and scattered showers. Temperatures will be more like what we would normally expect in late July, reaching 20 to 22C in the East and South and 15 to 18C in the North and West.
There’ll be further outbreaks of rain into the evening over Scotland and across central and eastern areas, which move away from most parts overnight leaving broken skies. Eastern areas may see a few clear intervals developing, but there’ll be scattered showers particularly in the North and West, with Northern Ireland, parts of Wales and the South West perhaps seeing more widespread showers moving in again towards morning. A South to South West wind will decrease somewhat as the weather clears in a very mild but not too humid night, with minimum temperatures mostly in the range 11 to 16C.