A four-day scorcher is set to begin today with highs of 26C as summer finally returns after weeks of relentless downpours.
Brits will get a brief respite from the miserable washout, weather experts predict, though the mercury won't quite hit the highs of the roasting heatwave in July.
The Met Office has predicted peaks of about 26C in some regions today, with the best of the sunshine expected in the South East of the country.
Despite it being the height of summer, rain is still expected in some areas though and particularly in Scotland and the north.
A band of wet weather in the west will move across the East of England throughout Wednesday night and into Thursday, according to forecasts.
The change in weather is down to a hot band of weather moving across the south and south east of England and comes after weeks of heavy rain, thunderstorms and floods.
The north of England is expected to see highs of 22 degrees after falling to the low teens on Tuesday, according to the BBC.
Meteorologist Matt Taylor said temperatures should begin to “creep up” bringing drier weather and longer sunny spells for most parts of England.
He said: “Temperatures should be closer to where they should be at this time of year with one or two areas seeing 25 or 26 degrees possibly."
Forecasters expect the better weather to continue for at least four days before more settled conditions return.
It comes after a deluge saw some areas hit by a month of rainfall in just the first 10 days of August.
The Met Office said 46mm of rain has so far fallen in Greater London, which usually sees 53mm in the whole of August.
West Sussex has seen 98 per cent of its average rainfall for the month.
Parts of Surrey and areas in the south east have also had up to 85 per cent of their total rainfall for August in just over a week.
Over the coming weekend, experts say there is an increased chance of showers, possibly thundery and with hail.
Long-range forecasts from Netweather predict temperatures of more than 25C could descend on the nation throughout the following weekend
Some areas of the south west could see soaring temperatures as high as 27C on Sunday August 22.
The charts predict heat will build across the south of England from August 19, with temperatures slowly rising from 23C up to 27C.
UK Weather Forecast
Today:
Cloud and outbreaks of rain over Northern Ireland spreading into Scotland, northern England and Wales, some heavy rain on hills, along with a freshening wind. Elsewhere staying dry with sunny spells, best of the warm sunshine in the southeast.
Tonight:
Light rain and drizzle sinking southwards across the rest of Wales, but slowing across parts of southwest, central and eastern England, where mild. Clearer elsewhere, quite chilly in north.
Thursday:
Early drizzly rain for parts of England fading, warmest and sunniest towards the east and southeast. Northwestern UK seeing increasing numbers of heavy, blustery showers and strengthening winds.
