Temperatures are set to plummet by up to 10C today as the recent spring heatwave comes to a sudden halt.
Brits have basked in what is set to become the sunniest April on record - just as the nation has been placed in an enforced lockdown by coronavirus, keeping people indoors.
But this week, torrential downpours and cooler temperatures hit following days of sweltering sunshine.
A spokesman for the Met Office said Tuesday is when Brits can expect temperatures to plummet with heavy rain.
They said: "It will be chilly and cloudy with spells of rain, which will turn heavy at times, across Wales and southern and central England."
Temperatures are expected to drop substantially on Tuesday, with London registering around 11C, compared to 21C today.
Oli Claydon from the Met Office said it would be "unsettled and turning much cooler into next week".
But he added: "With it being spring there will be spells when it will be brighter and calmer. It is a bit of a mixed bag, which is to be expected at this time of year."
Rain is expected in the northern parts of the UK later in the day.
Eight flood alerts have been issued by the Environment Agency for central England.
The weather will stay unsettled for much of the week with rain also forecast on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and even into next week.
Thursday will see scattered showers, some heavy and thundery, across many parts of the UK.
Forecaster Craig Snell said: "So on the final day of April, we will actually have a day of April showers across many parts of the UK."
"A much more different picture from last week where places have just seen blue skies and sunshine."
The unsettled weather is expected to continue into May.
Craig added: "Next week, there will be a lot more cloud in the sky and for many of us we will see some rain at some point."
Meanwhile the Met Office has said that this April is set to be the sunniest April on record.
New provisional information suggests that April 2020 is now the sunniest on record with 212.5 hours of sunshine having been recorded so far, the forecaster has said.
The previous record was 211.9 hours in 2015.
Today:
Cloudy across much of England and Wales with outbreaks of rain moving northwards, heavy in places, and feeling chilly. Brighter across Scotland and Northern Ireland with just a few showers.
Tonight:
Rain across England and Wales turning light and patchy, but leaving extensive mist, drizzle and low cloud. Clear spells over Scotland leading to a frost in places.
Wednesday:
Bands of rain, with some heavy bursts, moving northeastwards across many parts, interspersed with brighter spells. Much of Scotland staying dry until evening. Windy in the west.
Outlook for Thursday to Saturday:
Sunny spells and showers for most parts, some heavy with thunder on Thursday. Longer spells of rain possible on Saturday. Likely becoming warmer in the south on Saturday.
