UK weather forecast: High temperatures to return in late August - after two weeks of rain and storms

Met Office says warm weather will make a comeback later this month following 'cooler, fresher' conditions

The heatwave that has gripped Britain for months came to an abrupt end this week with a series of thunderstorms and downpours, but forecasters insist the sun will soon return.

High winds and torrential rain brought on by the arrival of Tropical Storm Debby in the North Atlantic marked the end of the hot weather on Thursday, and more downpours are expected this weekend.

But warm, sunny conditions are set to make a comeback in the last week of this month.

The Met Office is predicting higher than average temperatures over the next three months, meaning Britain could be set for an Indian summer during late August, September and October.

“Summer isn’t over yet!” said the Met Office’s Richard Miles. “Conditions are still average to above average in temperature, and the rain is what you’d expect in August really.”

Although temperatures will inch back upwards towards the end of the month, the Met Office says “cooler, fresher” conditions will prevail for the next fortnight.

Despite some sunny spells, more rain is expected on Friday, moving in from the west before spreading eastwards across the country.

The Met Office warned some parts of Britain could even experience thunder and hail on Friday.

The unsettled weather is set to continue this weekend, with a mixture of sunshine and rain. Temperatures will remain between 18C and 23C across much of the country.

“From Sunday it is turning wetter, cooler and windier generally, and this is the picture for the following week with further areas of low pressure coming into the country. We do not see an immediate return of the very hot weather,” the Met Office stated.

The agency predicted the “changeable” weather would prevail until the last week of August when “many areas may become warm or very warm, with an increased risk of hot spells also returning”.

The Met Office also warned against expecting too much when the heat does return.

“It is important to remember that higher than average temperatures do not necessarily mean a ‘heatwave’, and that it can still be warmer than average but cloudy and windy too.”