Brits can expect a return to a more 'typical' summer following a period of extreme weather, according to forecasters.
A lengthy hot, dry spell in many parts of the country has been followed by days of thunderstorms and heavy downpours this week, with a number of towns spending Thursday (August 18) cleaning after flash flooding the day before.
Some of the worst effects were seen on the Isle of Wight, where one landlord described having to remove tree trunks, litter and debris from their pub after it was inundated by a torrent of water.
It comes after meteorological data showed a total of 26,718 lightning strikes hit the UK between Sunday and Wednesday, accounting for more than half of all the country's strikes in the last 12 months.
But the outlook for the weekend and beyond is much less dramatic in contrast, with milder temperatures and more moderate rainfall appearing on the scene as summer draws to a close.
Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said: “It will be comfortable for most of the UK compared to the extreme heat we have been experiencing.
“Any rain that does fall from the sky will generally be much lighter than it has been.
“It will be a mixture of sunshine and showers, with the majority of the showers across the northern half of the country over the next few days.”
No weather warnings have been applied for Friday (August 19).
UK weather forecast:
Some showers or rain but turning drier in south Friday.
This Evening and Tonight:
Windy in the north with scattered showers, some heavy in the south and east for a time but mainly in northwest later. Rain, possibly quite heavy in palces, moving east across rest of England, before drying up in the west.
Friday:
Early rain across southeast England, perhaps heavy for some, soon clearing, then much of England and Wales seeing warm sunny spells. Sunshine and scattered showers for Northern and Scotland, breezy.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
Sunshine and showers Saturday, showers locally heavy in the north, though mainly dry southeast. Cloud and rain, some heavy, spreading northeast across the UK through Sunday and Monday. Warm nights.
