UK weather forecast: Rain expected to spoil summer sun next week

Rain expected to sweep in towards end of week but summer heat will persist

Thundery showers predicted to hit the north and west as early as Tuesday (PA)

The summer sun is expected to give way to persistent rain next week as a band of wet weather heads in from the west.

The nation is set to bake across the weekend with temperatures reaching as much as 24C in the southwest on Saturday, and highs of 20C in Glasgow.

And the evenings will continue to be warm, with much of the country expected to be reaching temperatures of 15C overnight.

But while the mercury will likely reach 20C across most of the UK over the weekend, thundery showers are predicted to hit the north and west as early as Tuesday.

Rain is expected to spread to the rest of the UK on Wednesday into Thursday, as a heavy downpour sweeps across the nation from the south right across to the north.

But despite potential for heavy rainfall, the heat will persist – reaching 24C in London and 21C in the north of England.

A forecast for the end of the working week from the Met Office said: “Overnight mist and low cloud will disperse on Wednesday morning followed by sunny spells and showers for many, with the risk of thunder.

“Later on Wednesday into Thursday there is the chance of more persistent rain arriving from the west, and Atlantic weather systems are likely to bring some wetter and windier spells across the UK for the rest of the week.

“This unsettled weather will be more especially across the north and west, with a possibility of thunderstorms.”