UK weather forecast: Met Office issues new warnings for heavy rain but will it impact half-term?

Brits are bracing for a deluge as heavy rain and thunderstorms threaten to sweep across the country following a spell of milder weather. Forecasters have put swathes of southwest and southeast England, East Anglia, Wales, and Northern Ireland on alert for potential flooding, lightning strikes, and even hail.

The Met Office has issued a stark warning that up to two inches of rain could lash Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, and western parts of Northern Ireland on Tuesday evening. Additionally, a separate thunderstorm warning is in place for southeast England and East Anglia until midnight.

Further warnings for rain are set for parts of the Midlands, North East, North West, Wales, and Yorkshire and Humber, with the adverse conditions expected to persist until 6am on Thursday. The impending downpours precede an area of low pressure poised to strike from the east on Wednesday, threatening heavy rainfall and raising fears of localised flooding.

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Met Office forecaster Amy Bokotan commented on the situation: "The downpours could be slow moving, and that's the main trouble - the wind's quite light at the moment so when they do form, they could be quite slow moving and intense."

She continued: "Where you see them they could be quite intense and dramatic, but not every where's going to see them and some places just down the road could be completely fine and shower and thunderstorm-free.", reports the Mirror.

Parents across the UK are wondering if the dreary weather will continue into next week, potentially disrupting Bank Holiday and half term plans. The Met Office's forecast suggests that Friday will still see scattered rain showers, particularly in the north, with a similar situation expected on Saturday as a front may move in from the Atlantic bringing a band of rain to Northern Ireland and western parts of Scotland.

However, there is a silver lining - for most of the country, Saturday is set to be a decent day, feeling warmer with temperatures slightly above average. From Sunday onwards, the weather is likely to be a mix of showers and warm sunshine.

The latest forecast reads: "By Bank Holiday Monday, there may still be some showers around, otherwise it will be dry and fine, and feeling warm in the sunshine. Into the following week, once any showers have cleared, more settled conditions are more likely for most, with the best of the weather likely in the southwest."

"Rain may threaten north-western areas at times, and there is a chance that southern or eastern areas may see the odd heavy or thundery outbreak of showers. Temperatures are likely to remain a little above average, with some regional variation."