A theme of unstable weather, often with quite a bit of cloud cover but not much rain for the south and east, looks set to continue across much of the UK over the next week. However, clearer and fresher conditions are likely to emerge by next weekend.
Relatively warm and humid weather will penetrate all parts of the country from the south west on Monday, after a clear and cold start for most parts of Scotland and northern England.
Rain showers will spread from the south west, some will be heavy in West Wales, Northern Ireland and West Scotland, but again rainfall will be small in many eastern and southern parts of Britain.
By evening it will be generally cloudy throughout, although it will remain dry in the north east of Scotland and most of the southern and eastern parts of England.
Forecasters say heavy showers from the Atlantic will hit parts of the country this weekend, while southern and eastern areas will remain warm and humid.
Thunderstorms could rumble before temperatures reach the high 20s from Monday.
With Office forecaster Tom Morgan told Sky News: “The main theme for the coming days will be wet weather, in stark contrast to the rest of July.
“Many areas will be very hot and humid with a lot of cloud cover, even at night, with temperatures reaching 20°C in the early hours, meaning uncomfortable nights for sleep ahead.”
He added: “[It will be] quite stuffy and humid, typical of the conditions in tropical countries.
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Morgan went on to say it will be a “week of two halves”, with cooler and drier weather starting Wednesday.
He added: “The rain will clear up and there will be a less cluttered picture, with calmer conditions and temperatures around 20 degrees.”
The balmy conditions follow an intense heat wave in recent weeks with temperatures exceeding 40C in some parts of the UK.