Thunderstorm warnings mark end of UK summer

The Met Office has issued yellow thunderstorm warnings for Friday and Saturday as our spell of warm weather comes to an end.

As well as the risk of lightning, some places in southern England and Wales could see as much as 50mm (2in) of rain, bringing the possibility of flooding and transport disruption.

This is in contrast to the past week, when many parts of the UK experienced warm and sunny weather, with temperatures widely reaching the low to mid-20s Celsius.

In northern Scotland the mercury rose to 25C, making it the warmest spell here this late in September since 2019.

Friday afternoon is forecast to bring scattered, heavy showers and thunderstorms to parts of southern England and Wales.

Gusty winds and hail may accompany the downpours, with the possibility of local flash flooding.

Later in the day, the storms are expected to fade. However, another spell of storms is forecast to reach the south coast of England in the early hours of Saturday, with more downpours spreading across England and Wales throughout the day.

On both days, the thunderstorms will be hit or miss, meaning that some locations will escape them altogether. However, where they do occur, as much as 50mm (2in) of rain could fall.

Sunday is also forecast to bring heavy showers, especially to southern parts of the UK, with more rain expected in the days following.

Not everywhere will experience bad weather, however.

Throughout the weekend and into early next week, Scotland, Northern Ireland and areas around the Irish Sea are expected to experience drier and calmer conditions.

There will be plenty of sunshine and pleasant temperatures. However, make the most of it, as it will not be long before the autumn chill arrives.

A change of wardrobe is inevitable for all of us next week. As the winds eventually swing from the north, cooler air will move in as low pressure systems bring widespread cloud and rain.

Daytime temperatures will typically range from 12C in Scotland to perhaps 16C along the England Channel coast. Later in the week, there is a risk of gales and even colder northerly winds.

With the autumn equinox set for 22 September, it seems that Mother Nature has decided to end summer right on cue.

However, it is entirely possible that an occasional spell of warmer weather may appear during October, which has historically even brought the odd hot spell.

Keep up with our latest thoughts on the coming weeks with our monthly outlook.