Britain will be battered by winds of over 50mph and heavy downpours before the return of glorious spring sunshine and 23C highs.
The Met Office is forecasting a quick turnaround in the weather as the working week progresses, but next weekend a new front may unsettle things once again.
Heavy showers are expected to sweep across the south tonight, with wind gusts peaking at 51mph in Camborne.
Southern areas, as well as the Midlands - which saw the brunt of the heavy rain last week - will see close to 30mph gales for much of Tuesday, though temperatures will be creeping into the teens.
Wednesday is expected to see the best of the sunshine and clear blue skies, with Britain generally fine, settled and mainly dry as the temperature moves into its peak.
Thursday will see highs of 21C before being topped by Friday at 23C - though rain is expected over the bank holiday.
Greg Dewhurst from the Met Office said it would warm up as the week progresses but there was a risk of bank holiday showers.
“Friday looks like a case of sunny spells and scattered showers but we could see highs of 22-23C," he said.
"It will still be on the warm side but feeling a little more humid.
“It looks like on Thursday we will see showers pushing into western parts so in the east it will be dry with sunny spells but in the west it will be a bit cloudier with the risk of some showers.
“The driest and sunniest day is probably Wednesday, although the temperatures will not be as high as Thursday.
"On Wednesday we are looking at highs of 19C, possibly 20C, and then on Thursday it will be around 22-23C and similarly on Friday.”
But he warned showers and “longer spells of rain” will develop across the country next weekend and temperatures will drop to around 12C on Sunday.
UK 5 day weather forecast
Today:
A bright and sunny start for Wales and Northern Ireland otherwise fairly cloudy with some sunny spells for most. Some showers over eastern England, with some heavy ones this afternoon. Chilly with onshore flow in the east.
Tonight:
Chilly in the north with a local frost. Cloudier and windier in the far southwest with local gales as well as heavy rain and perhaps thunder later in the night.
Tuesday:
Sunny and dry for most northern parts. Heavy rain, strong winds and perhaps some thunder to start in the southwest, easing later in the morning.
Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:
A few showers continuing in the west Wednesday and Thursday, perhaps developing more widely on Friday. Otherwise mostly dry and warm with sunny spells.
