UK weather: Exact date thunderstorms to hit – but Brits will be able to enjoy 24C sunshine first

THUNDERSTORMS are set to start battering the country – but not before Brits get to enjoy 24C sunshine first.

The Met Office says the coming days will be “hit or miss” when it comes to the balmy summer weather, but has warned it’s just a matter of time before storms are likely to blow through.

Kevin Jay/pictureexclusive.com

Thunderstorms are set to roll in across the country in coming days – as they did in Clacton-on-Sea earlier this month[/caption]

It comes after heavy downpours and 45mph winds smashed the country over the weekend, and the Met issued flood alerts for England.

Forecasters say parts of the country will today get to soak in the sunshine – ahead of the wild weather which is expected to hit on Monday.

London is set to hit 24C around 4pm today – with Southampton expected to enjoy 22C at the same time.

But other parts of the country won’t be so lucky, the Met Office’s Aidan McGivern said.

The Meteorologist said: “There will be some drier and brighter weather at times over the next few days – it’s not going to rain everywhere all the time.

“It’s very showery set up on Thursday and into Friday.”

Explaining today’s outlook, Aidan said: “It’s across northern and eastern parts where we’ll see the most frequent and heaviest downpours.

“Further west and southwest there’s a better chance of some drier and brighter interludes, and actually not everyone will see showers – some places will escape them through the day.

“Where we do see some sunny spells in the south it will be 22 to 24C, so pleasant enough with winds.”

“Further north we’ve got a bit more of a northwesterly breeze and so for the north of Scotland it will be 12 to 15C.

“It’s not feeling particularly summerlike – especially with the showers coming through from time to time.”

The forecaster said tomorrow will bring “another day of hit or miss showers”, while he said Brits should expect rain on Saturday.

Looking ahead, the Met said thunderstorms are likely to roll in on Monday.

Its outlook said: “Generally cool and unsettled over the weekend and at first next week.

“Showers or longer spells of rain, with strong winds in places and a risk of thunderstorms on Monday.”

It comes as much of Europe continues to battle intense heat, with some parts hitting temperatures higher than 40C, Brits have been dealing with gloomy conditions.

However the Met says we will start to see more summery days as we enter August.

With the UK expecting to see less rainfall and lighter winds, it will naturally start to feel warmer.