Much of the nation will be dry and bright today after millions were hit by a 24-hour torrential deluge of rain on Tuesday.

The Met Office is predicting sunshine and highs of about 20C in the south after heavy rain sparked flooding and travel chaos in much of England yesterday.

On Wednesday forecasters say that the country will see drizzle in some parts before clearing and becoming a dry and sunny day for many.

The rain will then hit parts of Scotland and the north by the evening with better conditions expected on Thursday.

But despite hopes that we could be in for another heatwave, the Met Office said temperatures will only hit a high of 23C on that day.

It comes after torrential downpours lashed huge swathes of the country causing travel chaos and intense flooding.

Areas across London were flooded as torrential rain and flash floods hit the capital.

The weather caused travel chaos for commuters many of whom have only just returned to the office.

Meanwhile, long range forecasts predict more storms and washout weather for the rest of September and October.

In the coming weeks the bright sunshine will be hard to come by while millions of Brits will see more windy and rainy conditions.

For the final two weeks of the month, between September 19 and 28, cloudy conditions and rainfall will take precedent, according to the Met Office.

There may be the occasional brighter period although the weather agency warns of a north and south divide.

Central parts of England, as well as London, may enjoy some rays but rain could also fall, spoiling any warm spells.

The northwest will see the worst of the weather, with unsettled conditions and heavy rain together with strong gusts to come.

Today:

Drizzle in eastern England dying out this morning. Fog clearing and low cloud breaking to leave a mostly dry day with sunny spells. Feeling warm in light winds, especially in the south. Showers moving eastwards across Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Tonight:

A band of cloud and showers moving east across Scotland, northern England and north Wales, the showers mostly dying out. Dry elsewhere with clear spells, a few fog patches forming.

Thursday:

Most parts dry with broken cloud and sunny spells. Feeling warm again in light winds, especially in the south and east. Turning wet and windy in the far northwest later.