UK weather forecast: Hopes of weekend sunshine dashed as rain prepares to sweep Britain

Hopes of a weekend mini-heatwave have been dashed as rain is set to sweep across the country just a day after temperatures hit 19C.

Temperatures are expected to return to normal for the time of year after the mercury soared to 19.4C in Sheffield, marking the first day of spring on Wednesday.

The average for the time of year is about 8C to 9C.

Rain and wind will arrive in northwest Scotland on Thursday night, before also battering northern England and Northern Ireland on Friday.

It will feel fresher than it has recently, with temperatures reaching about 12C to the mid-teens on Thursday and 12C to 13C on Friday.

Things will then turn cooler over the weekend, when temperatures will stay around 9C to 11C.

Met Office spokesman Richard Miles told The Independent: “For the next few days it’s fairly settled.

“It won’t be as warm as it has been but it will still be relatively mild.

“On Friday, there will be a band of rain moving south east from the northwest, but that will run out of steam by the time it gets to central and northern England.

“Following that it will be cooler and clearer skies in the north of the UK.

“On Saturday there will be some patchy light rain in the south, slowly clearing. Most other places will be dry with some hazy sunshine.

“The furthest southern counties of England might hold on to the rain showers for much of the day but it will be normal to slightly chilly in the north.”

Into next week, daytime temperatures are expected to be near normal on Monday and Tuesday with “no immediate sign of more extreme conditions,” he added.

Forecasters have warned the thousands of people expected to descend on London for the Put It To The People march on Saturday to prepare for a typical spring day.

Marches demanding a Final Say referendum will also be held in other cities, including Liverpool, Oxford Manchester and Norwich.

The change in weather comes after parts of the UK experienced torrential downpours and flooding after a month’s worth of rain fell in just 24 hours.

Numerous flood warnings were issued across the country at the weekend as fire engines pumped flood water away to protect homes in Sowerby Bridge and Todmorden in West Yorkshire.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service also tweeted pictures of firefighters rescuing people trapped in vehicles in rising floods.