BRITS are set to enjoy plenty more sunshine today as temperatures soar to 27C to kick off the week.
Dry weather is expected to dominate for much of the UK today and tomorrow, following last week’s heatwave.
AlamyBrits packed onto beaches in Lyme Regis, Dorset, over the weekend to enjoy the sunshine[/caption]
Mark FergusonFriends in Loch Lomond, Scotland, were spotted taking a dip in the lake on Sunday to cool off from the heat[/caption]
GettyFamilies enjoying the hot weather at Charmouth beach in West Dorset on Friday[/caption]
While some areas could enjoy temperatures comfortably in the 20s this afternoon, the Met Office has warned of imminent “thundery showers” for south-west England.
The forecaster said that showers were “possible” in the far south-west and that these would be “locally heavy and thundery” today.
Elsewhere, temperatures could reach as high as 27C today and tomorrow.
Southern areas are expected to enjoy the warmer conditions, as a northeasterly breeze means northern and eastern regions of the UK will be cooler.
However, they are still expected to reach up into the low-20s.
Clouds are expected to arrive later in the week and the cooler air in the north and east will travel towards southern and western areas.
Maximum temperatures are predicted to fall to around 23C by Wednesday and Thursday.
However, temperatures could push back up to the high-20s by the weekend, particularly during sunny spells, caused by the winds turning southerly.
While dry weather dominates this week, the Met Office has warned that wetter, windier, and more unsettled weather could be on the way by Bank Holiday Monday.
Temperatures at the weekend reached a high of 27.7C in Somerset, while parts of West Sussex and Inverness in Scotland also reached the 27C mark.
Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said: “Where people get the sunshine it’ll still feel fairly pleasant, it’ll just be a bit chillier than it has been of late.”
He added: “We had a couple of cooler days, yesterday (and) the day before.
“The odd spot here and there might be just holding on to a heatwave, but I think most places have dipped below their criteria and may have sort of come up again.
“I would say (the heatwave) finished over the weekend.”
Met Office five-day forecast
Today: A rather cloudy start across central and eastern areas but the cloud will slowly retreat back towards North Sea coasts.
Sunny spells elsewhere, although some showers affecting the far southwest. Warm in the sunshine, but rather cool along eastern coasts.
Tonight: A few showers continuing to affect the southwest overnight, perhaps turning thundery at times.
Otherwise North Sea cloud probably expanding back inland, with a little drizzle in places.
Tuesday: Cloud tending to break up again throughout the day, although lingering near eastern coasts.
Best of the sunshine in the west, with a risk of showers in the far south.
Outlook for Wednesday to Friday: Remaining largely dry and settled with a mixture of cloud and sunny periods.
Temperatures near normal for August by day, but nights turning chilly particularly in the countryside.
Last week, temperatures soared into the 30s as a heatwave was declared in some areas.
Brits flocked to beaches and parks across the country to bask in the sunshine, although the good weather came amid warnings from officials of a “nationally significant” water shortage in England.
Despite rainfall in July, there are concerns of drought across parts of the country.
The National Drought Group, which includes the Met Office, regulators, government, water companies and other organisations, said on Tuesday that it had met as five areas of the country remained in drought, with six more in prolonged dry weather status.
England is seeing widespread environmental and agricultural impacts from the lack of water, which is hitting crop yields, reducing feed for livestock, damaging wetlands and river wildlife, and increasing wildfires, the group said.
Experts warn climate change is driving more extreme weather conditions in the UK, worsening drought and dry spells, and making heatwaves more frequent and severe.
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