The UK weather this week is expected to show a stark contrast between southern England and western Scotland. While southern England braces for heavy rain and thunderstorms, Scotland could enjoy warm, even heatwave-like conditions.
In southern England, a period of unsettled weather is expected with downpours, thunderstorms, lightning, strong winds, and even hail. Some areas could see more than 50mm of rain in just two hours.
As a result, the Met Office has issued a yellow warning for heavy rain starting from 9 pm on Wednesday until 9 am on Thursday, covering areas such as south-east England, parts of Birmingham, Peterborough, and Norwich, extending as far west as Taunton in Somerset and south-east Wales.
Heavy downpours threaten southern England as warm weather settles over western Scotland.The warning highlights the risk of sudden flooding and lightning strikes, which could cause road closures and disrupt public transportation.
In contrast, western Scotland is forecast to have a much more settled week, with temperatures potentially reaching 26°C on Friday and Saturday.
According to Met Office spokesperson Oli Claydon, there is even a chance of meeting heatwave conditions, which require three consecutive days with maximum temperatures of 25°C or higher in Scotland. While daytime highs will be warm, rural areas in Scotland could still see overnight lows of 7°C.
Southern England might also experience warm temperatures, with a peak of 27°C expected on Friday. However, this could be accompanied by rain and cloud cover, so the warmth might not be felt as strongly.
Temperatures overall are expected to remain around the seasonal average for this time of year across the UK.