Met Office daily weather: Warm and humid conditions continue with risk of thunderstorms in some areas

The latest Met Office forecast suggests we’ll see thunderstorms in the southeast, rain in the north and west, and warm, humid conditions lingering in the south and east.

Thursday begins on an unsettled note, particularly in the far southeast, where heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected during the morning. These will gradually clear offshore, making way for a more widespread band of cloud and rain moving in from the north and west. As this system progresses eastwards, it will fragment into showers, some of which may be heavy, before clearing during the afternoon.

Behind this, drier and fresher conditions will follow, especially across central and southern areas, where it will also become quite windy. A few showers may linger in the northwest, and cloud will begin to increase again from the west later in the day.

Temperatures will start off humid for most, with the exception of Northern Ireland and western Scotland, where it will feel fresher. By the end of the day, this fresher air will extend to all but the far southeast. Maximum temperatures could reach 26-27°C in eastern England, while elsewhere values will return to nearer seasonal averages.

Overnight, most areas will see a cooler night compared to recent days, particularly away from the far northwest. A few showers will persist in the north, but much of the country will start dry. However, cloud will thicken from the west, bringing rain, locally heavy, into Northern Ireland, Scotland, northern England, and northwest Wales. Winds will also strengthen in these areas.

Further south and east, some clear spells will remain, though there is a chance of showery rain spreading eastwards later in the night.

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Outlook for Friday

Friday will see a continuation of unsettled conditions. Eastern areas will begin dry, but cloud and rain will spread from the west through the day. Rain will be heavy and persistent over some western hills, while southeastern and sheltered eastern areas may escape with little or no rainfall and even some sunny intervals.

Later in the day, it will turn fresher and more showery across the north. Winds will be moderate to fresh, becoming strong in the north and along exposed coasts. Temperatures will be near normal for most, though parts of the south and east may remain warm or very warm, with highs potentially reaching 28°C in southeastern England. It will remain very mild overnight in these areas.

Met Office presenter and meteorologist, Honor Criswick, said: “For many it is going to be a cloudy and quite a damp start to the day and quite a sultry night on offer. Many towns and cities not dropping much below the mid to high teens.

“So, for the first part of the day, yes, it is set to be unsettled. Outbreaks of quite heavy rain at times, particularly across Scotland, as this next system pushes its way eastwards. But it's fairly fast moving, so by the time we reach the afternoon, particularly from the west, we're going to see return of those bright and sunny spells. And behind this area of rain, a much fresher feel to the air as well.

“So, not feeling quite as muggy, though it is still going to be feeling warm in the sunshine, particularly across the central and southeastern parts of the UK. High still reaching around 25°C here, so a degree or two down compared to this afternoon. So, still feeling warm in the sunshine, but not quite as muggy. And then for the rest of the week, we do have a ridge of high pressure building to the south, so once again pushing in a return of that warmer air.

“So, that fresher feeling day as we head into Thursday, it's going to be quite a brief interlude. And low pressure is never too far behind, so still some rain on the cards to finish off the week and as we head into the weekend.”

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