UK weather forecast – Powerful jet stream to thrash Britain with wild winds & storms during week of heavy downpours
A POWERFUL jet stream is set to thrash Britain with wild winds and storms during a week of heavy downpours.
Spells of rain and strong wind are expected across the UK next week after a balmy weekend of temperatures peaking at 24C.
Unsettled weather is on the cards next week because of a strengthening of the jet stream - with a washout on the way just before summer.
There will be some dry patches in southern and central areas, but downpours are expected to batter Brits from Monday.
Strong winds coupled with wet weather will make for a miserable week after the balmy weather last Saturday.
The Met Office said: "Next week, a strengthening of the jet stream – which plays a crucial role in driving weather systems towards the UK – looks set to bring spells of unsettled weather through next week for much of the country.
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"Although there will still be some periods of drier weather, most likely in southern and central areas. "
Brits across the country will have to face showers as the UK is set to be "cooler than it has been", according to the Met Office.
Although London could reach 24C on Sunday, this will be the last day of sunshine for some time.
Another weather front on Sunday will bring rainfall from the West and cooler temperatures - with Brits braced to get their brollies out again.
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Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Dan Rudman said: “The strengthening of the jet stream increases the chances of low-pressure systems developing over the Atlantic being pushed towards the UK.
"Although there are still some details to be determined on the depth and timings of these lows, what we do know is that there’s some unsettled weather on the way next week, with some strong winds likely from the middle the week, especially in the north.
“Weather of this nature isn’t unusual in a UK spring, with changes in the jet stream frequently bringing interludes of unsettled weather.”
Richard Miles, of the Met Office, explained how a high pressure system from the continent is responsible for the heat and dramatic thunderstorms seen in some areas this week.
He said there is a chance that this high pressure system will "encroach into the very far corner of the South East early next week and bring yet more thunderstorms to the region".
Richard said that the recent good weather "is going to fall off Monday, Tuesday.
"Most places early next week will be feeling cooler than they have been this week."
Elsewhere in the country will see "temperatures generally trending down to closer to average", Mr Miles said, "with showers coming from the West", with temperatures of 16C in the South West and 14C in parts of the North East.
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But it's not all doom and gloom - with the temperature set to pick up by next weekend.
Brits could see highs of 25C on Friday after the washout week.