Britain could be basking in warmer weather by the end of the week after a weekend of high wind and torrential rain, with potential highs of 21C.
After a washout weekend, forecasters say the UK could be set for a “week of two halves” with showers and rainfall continuing over the next few days.
Monday will see scattered heavy showers, with rainfall of between 10-20mm expected across south-west England and South Wales in the evening, and temperatures of around 16-17C.
After autumn’s first torment hit on Saturday, another Atlantic tempest is set to bring more washouts and gales.
Tuesday should be worst day of the week, with temperatures dropping to highs of 14C and strong gales and heavy downpours of up to 40mm in south-west England. Some localised flooding may occur.
But then Hurricane Sam, spinning near Iceland, will suck warm subtropical air north.
On Wednesday, the mercury is thankfully expected to begin climbing, with the potential to reach 21C in some places on Thursday and Friday.
Dry and sunny spells are expected with widespread highs of 18C across the UK for the rest of the week and into the weekend.
The warmer and dry weather will be a welcome break after a weekend of showers and strong gales, as the country was battered by storms on Saturday with weather warnings for several areas in the south of England including Portsmouth and Brighton.
Tom Morgan, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "It's almost a week of two halves, the week begins much like the weekend was.
"It is quite unsettled and changeable, there will be some heavy showers around on Monday, but it won't be feeling quite as cool as it did in many places this weekend.
"It's all back downhill again by Tuesday, as quite a deep Atlantic area of low pressure arrives from the southwest, so although we haven't got any weather warnings in force for Tuesday yet, it is probably the most likely day this week that we will see some severe weather.”
He continued: “We will see some stubborn areas of low clouds and mist and fog, lasting through the mornings, but most places will see dry weather with some sunshine at times, and temperatures will start to rise."
UK weather forecast
Today:
Showers, some heavy, particularly in the west and south-east at first, developing elsewhere through the day. Some sunshine between the showers, best in the east. Rain and strong winds reaching the far south-west later.
Tonight:
Heavy rain moving east across England and Wales with strong winds and coastal gales in the south and west. Patchy frost and fog for central and northern Scotland.
Tuesday:
Persistent and at times heavy rain and strong winds for northern England and south-east Scotland. Rain clearing to blustery showers and sunny spells in the south and west.
Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:
Cloud and rain affecting Northern Ireland and Scotland at times, heavy and persistent in the west. Elsewhere, becoming largely settled with variable cloud and some morning fog. Becoming warmer.
