On Sunday, much of the UK experienced cooler temperatures and «fresher» conditions following thunderstorms that passed through the country overnight. The Met Office issued a yellow thunderstorm warning that lasted until 3am for areas in northern England and southeast Scotland. Some areas received up to 25mm of rainfall in just one hour, with Berwick-upon-Tweed in Northumberland recording 31.1mm overnight.
After reaching the hottest day of the year on Saturday with a temperature of 33.2C (91.7F) in Charlwood, Surrey, the UK saw a shift to cooler temperatures in various regions, except for the South East.
Scores of rail passengers were evacuated after some services were halted due to a train fault.
While some parts of the country had been experiencing a heatwave in recent days, temperatures have now returned to more average levels for this time of year. Meteorologist Marco Petagna from the Met Office mentioned that temperatures could reach 27C or 28C in the South East of England on Sunday, with other regions experiencing high teens to low 20s in temperatures.
He further added, «Elsewhere, there’s a fresher feel, quite breezy as well, so most places will have high teens to low 20s for temperatures, with showers expected tonight. The South East might experience showers from the west, leading to a mix of clear spells and showers tonight.»
«Temperatures could drop to 3 or 4 degrees in rural spots in Scotland, but in most places, especially towns and cities, temperatures will remain in double figures, providing a fresher feel compared to recent nights,» Petagna explained.
People enjoy the warm weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset on Sunday. Pic: PA
What’s the forecast for Monday?
According to Mr. Petagna, the South East will experience the most sunshine on Monday with highs of up to 25C. In other regions, temperatures will be in the high teens to low 20s, which is considered near-average for this time of year. The upcoming week is expected to bring changeable conditions, with rain expected in most areas at times.
«Temperatures will rise again in the South East around the middle of the week, reaching high 20s on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, this heat will also bring the possibility of thundery downpours in the south and South East,» Petagna warned.
What is a heatwave?
An official heatwave is declared when certain areas maintain a specific temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying between 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK.