Thunderstorms will strike Britain before a blistering August heatwave emerges after weeks of mild temperatures.
Britons look set to bask in sunshine as the summer holidays draw to a close, several meteorological websites have claimed.
However, the UK must first contend with tumultuous thunderstorms and heavy showers.
Independent forecaster NetWeather said: “Upper trough and surface low pressure will be over the North Sea with a ridge of high pressure building to the west of Britain on Tuesday.
Temperatures will hit as high as 31C on August 22
WXCHARTS
“Surface heating and breeze convergence across central and SE Scotland along with NE England will support the development of heavy showers and a few thunderstorms this afternoon.
“Showers will develop elsewhere, but limited cloud depth will mean lightning is unlikely.”
Temperatures will soon tick up towards 30C after a period of mild conditions.
WXCHARTS forecast for August 22 suggests mercury could hit 31C in London, the East of England and the South East.
Temperatures will teeter towards 30C in other parts of the UK, with the Midlands and South West registering highs of 29C.
The Met Office’s long range weather forecast appears to echo expectations for warmer weather conditions.
The UK’s national weather service claimed in its August 20 to August 29 forecast: “At the start of the period there will be mixture of sunshine and showers for many areas, but staying largely dry in the southeast.
“Showers most likely in the north and west, where they could be heavy at times with the odd rumble of thunder.
Mercury will plunge later this month as the August heatwave drops off
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“This theme likely to continue into the start of the new week, with lighter winds and drier conditions in the southeast, and showers and stronger winds in the northwest.
“Temperatures are expected to remain on the warmer side of average, probably becoming hot in the southeast for a time next week, with the potential for a thundery breakdown.
“As we head towards the end of the period we will likely see a return to unsettled conditions and further heavy showers and thunderstorms.”
Despite soaring temperatures next week, mercury will dip down to the late-teens and low-twenties as August comes to a close.