THE Met Office has issued a yellow warning for rain today as “persistent, heavy” downpours are predicted for parts of the UK.
Windy conditions, with gusts of up to 50mph, could also lead to travel disruption in the affected areas, marking a stark change in the weather since the heatwave earlier this week.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning, lasting from 6am today until 3pm tomorrow – with locals in Glasgow pictured here sheltering from downpours yesterday[/caption]
The rain and wind comes just days after a heatwave across much of the UK came to an end – with tennis fans seen covering themselves from rainfall at Wimbledon on Wednesday[/caption]
The warning is in place for much of western Scotland[/caption]
The weather warning has been put in place for much of the west coast of Scotland from 6am today until 3pm tomorrow.
It states: “Persistent, heavy rain on Friday and Saturday brings difficult travel conditions and possible flooding in places”.
The Met Office explained that spray and flooding on roads would likely increase journey times, with bus and train services also similarly impacted by the rainfall.
Warnings have also been put in place for “some interruption” to power supplies and other services.
The strongest period of rainfall is expected to be throughout much of Friday and overnight before easing on Saturday, the weather agency said.
It warned that around 40 to 60mm of rain is expected to build up “quite widely”, with potentially more than 100mm falling over some mountains.
The Met Office added that the rain would be accompanied by windy conditions, with gusts reaching as high as “40 to 50mph” around coasts and hills.
Residents in these areas have been advised to avoid travelling by road during “potentially dangerous conditions”.
If you must travel, make sure to drive cautiously and watch for possible danger, the Met Office cautioned.
Areas affected by the warning include Perth and Kinross, Stirling, the Highlands, Argyll and Bute, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, and West Dunbartonshire.
Summarising the weather today, the Met Office said it would be “wet and windy” across Scotland and Northern Ireland, with the rain being heaviest across western Scotland.
It said this rain would also spread into parts of northwest Wales as well as northern England as the day progresses.
But beyond this, the Met Office said it would be a largely “fine and dry” day elsewhere, with “plenty of sunshine”.
Temperatures have begun to drop down towards average levels from this time of year, after a heatwave swept across much of the UK over the past week.
Brits spotted enjoying the sun at Royal Windsor Racecourse in Berkshire on Monday[/caption]
A runner battling the heat on the Hove seafront in East Sussex on Tuesday – the hottest day of the year[/caption]
Tennis fans were spotted sheltering from the rain on Wednesday as they queued up for Wimbledon[/caption]
Lasting for as long as six days in some areas, temperatures soared above 34C during the heatwave in southern England.
The blistering heat finally came to an end on Wednesday as temperatures were no longer above the given threshold for three consecutive days in any part of the UK.
On Tuesday, the hottest day of the year so far, Brits were spotted rushing to beaches and outdoor pools to cool off.
34.4C was recorded on the mercury in Writtle, Essex, trumping last year’s record high of 33.2C – recorded on June 21 in Charlwood, Surrey.
Since 1960, UK temperatures in June have surpassed 34C in only three years, with the hottest being 35.6C – recorded in 1976.
Met Office five-day forecast
Today: Wet and windy across Scotland and Northern Ireland, with the rain heaviest across western Scotland.
The rain will also spread into parts of northwest Wales and northern England later.
Otherwise, fine and dry elsewhere with plenty of sunshine but breezier.
Tonight: The cloud and rain gradually spreading southeastwards across the rest of the UK, but very little reaching the southeast.
A mild night but remaining windy in the north.
Saturday: A breezy day with large amounts of cloud and some outbreaks of rain, most frequent in the west.
Temperatures around average in the north, but feeling warm in the south.
Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday: Remaining changeable on Sunday and Monday, with some further spells of rain, especially in the west.
Drier and brighter for all on Tuesday.
Rather cool initially, but turning warmer Tuesday.
