The return of 'British summertime': Wet weekend ahead of Wimbledon after year's hottest day

Windy conditions and showers expected as temperatures stay in the high teens

Racegoers shelter from rain at day four of Royal Ascot (Getty Images)

After basking in the hottest day of the year this week, the more traditional face of the British summertime will show its face again this weekend with blustery weather and showers.

Temperatures will dip to the high teens and Saturday will see a high chance of rain across the British Isles. North-easterly winds could 38mph.

Lindsay Mears, a Met Office spokesperson said: "We're expecting an unsettled pictured for the weekend. There will be showers with sunny intervals tomorrow and temperatures will be cooler.

"The muggy weather of the last few days will be gone and it will be windy and fresher."

Rain will be more persistent in the north on Sunday and showers are expected in southern areas, she said. Thunder storms are also expected in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Those holding their breath for Wimbledon, which starts on Monday, may breathe a sigh of relief as conditions improve slightly in the early days of next week.

"Monday is a similar picture as the weekend for the first half but it will improve throughout the day," said Ms Mears.

"It will get clearer and brighter on Tuesday and Wednesday."

Wednesday was the hottest day of the year so far in the UK, as temperatures reached 26.4C in Herstmonceux in East Sussex, but yesterday the Met Office issued yellow weather warnings in the south-east and south-west as up to a month's rainfall was expected in the space of three hours.

Ms Mears said that this weekend and beyond will see a return of the kind of weather we have experienced in past summers.