Rain and showers for some as temperatures fall
The UK is expected to experience cooler weather this week following a period of record-breaking heat, though this relief may be temporary.
Last week saw new June heat records established on three consecutive days, culminating in a temperature of 37.3C at Santon Downham in Suffolk. This surpassed the previous June record of 35.6C set in 1976.
This week, weather systems arriving from the Atlantic on south-westerly winds will cause temperatures to decline, accompanied by areas of low pressure bringing rainfall.
By the weekend, however, high pressure may become more dominant, potentially leading to another heatwave.
The high pressure system responsible for last week's intense heat has shifted into eastern Europe, allowing temperatures to drop in western parts of the UK.
South-westerly winds from the Atlantic have arrived, reducing both temperatures and humidity levels.
On Monday, most areas are expected to remain dry with sunny intervals. The warmest temperatures will be in the Midlands and eastern England, reaching a more comfortable 24 or 25C.
Tuesday will bring an area of low pressure that is forecast to produce showers or longer spells of rain, mainly affecting northern and western regions. Some rainfall could be heavy and accompanied by thunderstorms.
The pressure chart for Monday shows the Azores high building in from the south-west and low pressure systems in the Atlantic.
A second low pressure system will arrive from the Atlantic later on Wednesday. As it moves northward, rain and stronger winds are expected to be more significant in Northern Ireland than in Scotland.
This low pressure system will move towards Scandinavia on Wednesday night, leading to dry conditions on Thursday after morning blustery showers in Scotland subside.
Throughout the week, pressure will remain higher in southern areas, with south-eastern parts of England likely to miss out on rainfall.
It is possible that the first week of Wimbledon will experience completely dry weather.
The highest temperatures this week will be in south-east England, reaching around 25 or 26C. Although this is above average for this time of year, it is considerably cooler than last week's heat and humidity.
Could another heatwave be on the horizon?
An area of high pressure extending from the Azores towards the end of the week could become established over the UK and parts of western Europe from the weekend into early next week.
It is possible that this could develop into another heat dome, bringing rapidly rising temperatures and increased sunshine.
While this remains uncertain, there is a chance that the heatwave threshold could be exceeded again in south-eastern parts of the UK in early July.
Drier and warmer conditions are likely to develop mainly in England and Wales.
Some weather models suggest a pattern similar to the record-breaking heatwave in June, with forecast temperatures potentially reaching 35C.
It is known that heatwaves in the UK are becoming more intense and frequent due to human-induced climate change.
Long-term forecasts also indicate that significant bursts of heat are likely during July and August.
For updates, monitor the forecast for your local area.
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How did you cope during the recent heatwave? How did you adapt your daily routine?
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