Britons are braced for another washout today with thunder and heavy rain set to hit the country once more, after torrential showers and storms yesterday.
Despite it being the height of summer, the windy and unsettled conditions are expected to continue well into next week, with rain forecast until Thursday.
This morning there will be sunny spells for most areas, and although a scattering of showers will develop, some southern and eastern parts will remain dry.
However it will become windy in the far north-west with more persistent rain later, marking an abrupt end to the mini heatwave.
Yesterday saw a yellow thunderstorm warning in place, with thunder and lightning seen across the South up until midnight, and although forecasters say today will be less intense, rumbles could be heard later.
Despite the downpours expected again today, temperatures will remain relatively high, with peaks of 75F (24C) in the south of the country and humid conditions set to continue.
It comes after a tornado ripped through Northampton at around 8pm yesterday damaging homes and allotments. Footage shows the twister flinging debris into the air which left entire sheds overturned and fence panels lifted from the ground.
A Met Office spokesperson said: ‘It will be another day of sunshine and showers for most of the UK today, with temperatures still warm in the south east but turning fresher else where.
Britons are braced for another washout today with thunder and heavy rain set to hit the country once more, after torrential showers and thunder yesterday. Pictured: two women shelter from the rain last night near Clapham Common in south London
A group of people shelter from the rain under a tree on Clapham Common in south west London yesterday evening. More rain is forecast today
It comes after a tornado ripped through Northampton at around 8pm yesterday damaging homes and allotments. Pictured is the aftermath of the chaos
‘A sunny start for most on Sunday morning but with bands of showers quickly coming in from the west and then showers developing as we go through the day. Some of these could be heavy at times with the odd rumble of thunder.
‘Temperatures will be average for this time of year and reaching 23 and 24C in the south and south east.
‘Through Sunday evening we will continue to see some showers, with persistent rain moving into parts of Scotland. There is more rain to come, particularly on Monday and showers too.’
Britain faces more rain and thunder today after torrential downpours yesterday. Pictured: shoppers wearing face masks in Bath brave a torrential downpour on Saturday
Heavy rain disrupts pubs and restaurants during lockdown recovery in Battersea, south London yesterday evening
Tonight there will be rain in the far north-west and cloud will soon thicken from the south-west, bringing outbreaks of rain to much of England, Wales, southern and Scotland and Northern Ireland.
On Monday there will more even more rain, some heavy, clearing gradually eastwards to leave some sunny intervals and a few showers. It will become breezy with some strong winds around southern and western coasts.
Also, for bars and restaurants which have recently reopened with outside dining areas, the weekend deluge will be a cruel blow for businesses attempting to recover from the shutdown.
Following the tornado in Northampton yesterday, locals reported tiles being ripped from rooftops, power lines coming down and trampolines and bins being lifted from gardens.
Following the tornado in Northampton yesterday, locals reported tiles being ripped from rooftops, power lines coming down and trampolines and bins being lifted from gardens
Pictured is the destruction of Moulton Allotments in Northampton after a tornado ripped through the area yesterday evening
Resident Joe Minney, of Moulton, said: ‘My bathroom window blew open and my blind was ripped out the fixings. My bins were blown over and the rubbish chucked up into the air really high.
‘You couldn’t hear anything but the sheer roar of the wind as the tornado ripped through the back of the house and the allotments. Luckily we have an eight-foot brick wall surrounding our garden so no fences fell down.
‘But it was crazy. The door was open to let a breeze in but never expected a tornado to come past I couldn’t physically shut the back door. It was all over so quickly maybe 30 seconds or so.’
Forecasters are predicting a changeable start to the school holidays with unsettled conditions continuing through to at least the first week of August.
The Met Office’s forecast for the rest of the coming week states: ‘The unsettled theme seems likely to continue with scattered showers and strong winds interspersed with sunny spells across much of the country.’
Further rain and strong winds are expected at the beginning of August, with the ‘best of any drier weather’ in the South.
‘It is generally likely to be on the cool side for much of the country with any warmer spells more likely across south-eastern parts,’ the Met Office adds.