Thunderstorms could hit London on Wednesday as heavy rain could bring an end to one of the driest springs in decades.
BBC Weather has warned that there could be thundery showers for two hours on Wednesday afternoon, with light rain forecast until 5pm.
London could also be hit by three days of rain during the Bank Holiday weekend following a bright and sunny start to May.
The Met Office has also forecast showers for parts of the country at the start of the half-term break next week. It comes after a “remarkably dry start to spring”.
The Environment Agency has warned of the risk of drought this summer without sustained rainfall after the driest start to spring in nearly six decades, with millions of households told they may face restrictions on water use in the coming months.
As of Friday, 80.6mm of rain had been recorded for the UK this spring, nearly 20mm less than the record low for the full season of 100.7mm set in 1852.
Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud previously told the PA news agency: “We are looking at an increasing chance of showers Tuesday onwards across southern areas of the country.
“Then beyond that, Thursday and Friday are likely to become dry, fine and sunny again, with good deals of sunshine for much of the country.”
The meteorologist added: “It’s been a remarkably dry start to spring, and also a remarkably dry start to May.
“The final week of May, the half-term week, is looking increasingly changeable, with areas of cloud and rain arriving from the west.”
The Met Office said the driver for the prolonged warm and very dry spell has been high pressure.
Many gardens at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show are focusing on a drier future as amateur gardeners – and professional show designers – struggle with the dry spring.
The London show runs from Tuesday to Saturday.
