UK weather forecast: Thunderstorms and heavy rain set to sweep across country before scorching temperatures return

Britain is set to be hit by heavy rain and thunderstorms over the coming days before scorching temperatures return, the Met Office has warned.

The weather service issued a “yellow” emergency alert for rain in the south of Wales, as torrential downpours disrupted bus and train services on Friday morning.

Most of Britain will see some showers throughout the day, with thunder expected to sweep around Manchester and the west coast of Wales.

Golf fans at The Open in the far north of Northern Ireland can expect cloudy skies with a few outbreaks of rain in the afternoon on the second day of the competition.

But over the the weekend, spectators are likely to see prolonged downpours lasting up to an hour.

However, Saturday will see a brighter start for some with a few showers, while heavy and possibly thundery downpours persist in the north-west of England.

Northern Ireland and the west of Scotland will see the wettest weather with persistent rain expected over the first 36 hours of the weekend.

It comes at the end of a hot and muggy week, with temperatures hitting 27C in London on Tuesday.

On Sunday there is a clear North-South split, with dry and warm conditions in the south while heavy showers and strong winds persist in the north west.

However, on Tuesday clear, blue skies are expected across the country with highs of 28C in the south east and East Anglia.

Temperatures could even rise to 32C in some southern areas on Wednesday, the Met Office said.

It comes after Britain recorded its hottest day of the year at the end of June as temperatures rose to 34C in west London.

The heatwave was brought on by an “enormous” bubble of warm air from the Sahara which spread across Europe.

Nicola Maxey, a spokesperson for the Met Office, said: "Warm air pushing in from the continent will spread across the south of the country at the start of next week.

"Temperatures in the high twenties and possibly low thirties are expected in southern areas from Monday through to Wednesday – reaching the heatwave threshold.

"Further north, we can expect highs of 27C in Birmingham and 25C in Newcastle."