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FLOODY HELL

UK weather forecast – Britain set for thunderstorms and flood alerts as lockdown heatwave washed away

BRITAIN is set for thunderstorms and flood alerts as the nation's short-lived lockdown heatwave is washed away.

Heavy rain and cooler weather is expected to batter the south of the country over the weekend.

 Saturday morning will see heavy rain, perhaps with thunder, moving across southern areas
Saturday morning will see heavy rain, perhaps with thunder, moving across southern areasCredit: Met Office
 The weekend weather forecast follows Thursday's 24C heat which saw many enjoy the sunshine across the country
The weekend weather forecast follows Thursday's 24C heat which saw many enjoy the sunshine across the countryCredit: London News Pictures

The turn in weather follows Thursday's warm weather where temperatures soared to 23C in parts of the country today.

Unfortunately, the balmy weather will be short-lived, with thundery showers forecast for the weekend.

Rain is expected to come from the south west of England on Friday, and will spread across the south during the day.

A Met Office spokesperson told Sun Online: "Northern parts of the country will stay dry and bright and the south will see heavy rain.

Northern parts of the country will stay dry and bright and the south will see heavy rain.

Met Office spokesman

"A band of heavy rain will push southwards bringing up to 30 millimetres in a few spots.

"It's heavy but shouldn't last especially long."

Friday temperatures will see a high of 17 and a low of -1 on Friday night with most places across the country averaging 13 degrees.

On Saturday, there will be a high of 18 towards the south although there will be a mix of temperatures, with an average of 12.

The spokesperson added there is potential for the rain to be heavy enough to cause some flash flooding, though the risk was still low.

"It's been exceptionally dry for April so far with only 13 per cent of the average month's rainfall," he added.

Heavy thundery showers are predicted over Friday night and into Saturday with weather drying up by Sunday with some areas in the south getting as high as 20 degrees.

Luke Miall, a Met Office meteorologist, said: “The weekend is looking a lot more mixed. The first bout of wet weather comes up through the South on Friday, and England and Wales will see the threat of further showers.

We don’t normally big up bad weather, but in this scenario it’s a bit of a positive.

Met Office meteorologist Luke Miall

“The best of the dry weather will likely be in the north west of the country, in Scotland and Northern Ireland.”

The forecaster said the dry weather would be a relief for a Britain in lockdown: “We don’t normally big up bad weather, but in this scenario it’s a bit of a positive.”

It's mostly good news for those areas north of the UK which will remain dry, with some low cloud and hill fog in the east.

Friday will bring much cooler weather with heavy rain, perhaps with thunder, moving across southern areas, followed by scattered heavy showers or thunderstorms lasting into the night, according to the Met Office.

Saturday will bring showers or longer spells of rain, heavy at times with a risk of thunder, across southern areas.

POSSIBLE FLOODING

Flooding is possible in the south of the country over the weekend, particularly in areas such as High Wycombe, Tidmarsh and North Warnborough.

 Flooding is possible in the south of the country
Flooding is possible in the south of the country
 Areas such as High Wycombe, Tidmarsh and North Warnborough could see flooding over the weekend
Areas such as High Wycombe, Tidmarsh and North Warnborough could see flooding over the weekend

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HEATWAVE SHORTLIVED

The grim weather follows last week's glorious bank holiday weekend where temperatures soared to record highs, with some Brits flouting lockdown rules and heading to parks and beaches to sunbathe.

Dozens of Brits hit the beach in defiance of coronavirus lockdown rules, as the country roasted in 24C heat.

Good Friday’s warm weather proved to be too tempting for some who ignored government guidance and decided to bask in the sun.

 The heatwave will be short lived, and will be replaced with thundery showers by the weekend
The heatwave will be short lived, and will be replaced with thundery showers by the weekendCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Some people flouted the government's coronavirus lockdown rules and went to the beach
Some people flouted the government's coronavirus lockdown rules and went to the beachCredit: London News Pictures
 Police and military boats patrolled the south coast to deter Brits from sunbathing
Police and military boats patrolled the south coast to deter Brits from sunbathingCredit: Getty Images - Getty


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