Brits have been warned to brace for the first washout weekend of June with torrential downpours and thunderstorms in some areas.
After scorching temperatures and balmy weather all month-long the Met Office is predicting far more grim weather for the coming days.
Forecasters predict that heavy rain will lash parts of Britain throughout Friday with lightning strikes expected until tomorrow morning.
Clare Nasir at the Met Office said of the forecast for Friday: "All eyes are on France. Another batch of thundery rain develops here and will push towards the southeast through [Friday].
"Another thunderstorm warning in force through Friday."
That yellow weather warning for thunderstorms is in place from 6am today until 6am on Saturday, covering a large swathe of south eastern parts of England.
Forecasters say those in affected regions should expect 'spells of heavy rain' which could lead to 'travel disruption and flooding.'
The Met Office added: "For some, rain may be accompanied by thunder and lightning."
Up to 70mm of rain could fall in some places with lightning strikes possible in parts of East Anglia, the East Midlands and southeast England.
Temperatures will be less warm than in recent days with the highest temperatures going into the high teens, possibly as much as 20 C in central areas.
Clare Nasir added that the thundery rain would develop through rush hour on Friday morning and said: "Some torrential downpours likely again.
"The greatest threats will be thunder, lightning, and also torrential rain, poor visibility, lots of surface water on the roads."
Elsewhere across the UK in most areas outside of the warning zone it will be fine and dry weather, avoiding much of the storms centring on the south east.
The rain will continue into the weekend with some parts seeing wet weather on Saturday while more heavy downpours are set to lash the UK on Sunday.
UK Weather Forecast
Today:
Fine and generally dry with sunny spells for Scotland, Northern Ireland and western Wales. Cloudier elsewhere, especially eastern, central and southern England where spells of rain, heavy at times. Breezy for much of England and Wales.
Tonight:
Evening rain over parts of England gradually clearing away, clear spells following. Elsewhere, many areas dry with clear spells and another chilly night in the north and west.
Saturday:
Dry with sunny spells for most areas and generally warmer than today. Cloudier across parts of Scotland where a few showers. Thunderstorms may move into southern UK during the evening.
Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:
Becoming increasingly unsettled from the south Sunday, with spells of rain, locally heavy and thundery, mainly for England. Less unsettled for Scotland and NI. Many areas more settled by Tuesday.
