UK weather forecast: Heavy rain and thunderstorms to hit Britain after 'mist and murk'

Britain will be battered by rain and thunderstorm as the gloomy May weather continues into the end of the weekend.

Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge warned there will be “mist and murk” across the east coast of England during a cloudy start to Sunday morning.

Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northeast England will bear the brunt of the wet and miserable conditions which will persist into the start of the working week.

But forecasters say some parts of England and Wales could enjoy outbreaks of sunshine with temperatures of up to 21C.

Mr Partridge said: “As we move further south, it will be cloudy across Northern Ireland and much of northern England with mist and murk across the North Sea coast.

Britain will see a foggy start to Sunday morning (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)

The gloomy May will continue for much of the weekend (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)

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“Further inland though, there will be more brightness and sunny spells across southeast England to start with.”

Cloudy conditions will gradually begin to clear throughout the day but the threat of showers will linger for central parts of the UK.

Mr Partridge added: “But away from those showers, it is a fine day.

"In the sunshine we could see highs of 20C or 21C by the end of the afternoon.”

Outbreaks of rain will threaten much of the country (PA)

Conditions will be cloudy in the early hours of Sunday (Met Office)

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A spokesman for the Met Office said it would be a “bright day for many with a mixture of warm sunny spells and scattered showers.

“Some of the showers could be heavy and slow moving.

"Low cloud, and patchy fog may lap onto some North Sea coastal areas at times.

Sunshine could break out in some parts of the country with temperatures of up to 21C (Met Office)

"Some showers will continue through the evening, though will tend to ease overnight away from southern England.

"Clear spells overnight may lead to a few mist and fog patches developing.

Monday morning is likely to be a gloomy start to the week with the threat of scattered showers and and an increased risk of thunderstorms.

The unsettled conditions will continue into Monday (Mitchell Gunn/REX)

The late May Bank Holiday could also see some wet weather (PA)

The Met Office forecast said: "Each day early mist and fog will clear readily in most areas leaving warm sunshine and showers, some heavy in places.

"More general rain likely in the north on Wednesday.

"This more changeable weather is expected to continue into the Bank Holiday weekend with all parts seeing rain or showers at times."