UK weather: Temperatures to drop significantly on Friday as threat of thunderstorms continues

Hay bales are pictures in a field in Dover on 12 August, 2020, as the UK experiences high temperatures and scattered thunderstorms: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Hay bales are pictures in a field in Dover on 12 August, 2020, as the UK experiences high temperatures and scattered thunderstorms: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Temperatures in the UK will drop on Friday after another hot day on Thursday but the threat of scattered thunderstorms will persist into next week, the Met Office has said.

Forecasters predict that thunderstorms will bring hail, lightning and torrential rainfall mainly to southern parts of the UK on Thursday, with yellow weather warnings in place for much of England and Wales until Monday because of further thunderstorms.

Although not quite as warm as the last six days, London will see highs of around 30C on Thursday and temperatures will generally remain hot in most places in the UK.

However, low cloud cover hanging over the east of the UK will mean it is much cooler in areas around the North Sea coast.

Aidan McGivern, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "Thursday will be another hot day for many. Just not quite as hot as it has been recently.

"The heat though still triggering scattered thunderstorms," he added.

The pick of the weather will be in Northern Ireland and western Scotland, where there will be "plenty of sunny spells", according to Mr McGivern.

On Friday, conditions will feel much cooler, as temperatures drop into the low to mid-20s, marginally above the average for this time of year.

Speaking about the outlook on Friday, Mr McGivern said temperatures would be "significantly lower" than they have been recently.

This comes after the UK recorded temperatures of 34C or above for six consecutive days from Friday to Wednesday.

The UK has not seen such a warm spell of weather since at least 1961.

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