UK weather latest forecast: Heatwave unlikely to return after heavy downpours but summer isn't over just yet

Met Office says there will be drier spells and plenty of sunshine towards the end of August

High winds and torrential downpours brought an abrupt end to the sweltering heat that gripped the UK for weeks, but forecasters insist that summer is not over just yet.

The arrival of tropical storm Debby brought thundery outbreaks and heavy rain interspersed with some sunny spells on Thursday and Friday, but the weather appeared to have settled by Saturday morning.

Looking forward, the Met Office is predicting that there will be drier spells and plenty of sunshine towards the end of August and well into September.

Forecaster Greg Dewhurst told The Independent that while there are no strong signals that the heatwave would make a comeback, there is more of a settled picture with the mercury reaching the mid-20s in the southeast.

“Towards the end of August, high pressure is expected to start to move back in from the west. However, there will still be some unsettled weather from northwest parts of UK,” he said.

However, there will be the possibility of scattered rain and cooler temperatures in Northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

He went on to add that Britain could be set for an Indian summer during late August, September and October, with the high pressure systems likely to keep cool and wet weather at bay.

“Going into September looking similar to end of August, lower pressure to the north of the high pressure to the south which is pretty normal for time of year. Risk of rain to northern western UK.”

He added that while it was too early to predict the weather for the August bank holiday, it wouldn't be surprising if those heading to the capital’s Notting Hill Carnival are treated to balmy conditions at around 25-26 degrees.

The Met Office previously said that the 'there are promising signs of a return to summery weather from Friday and next weekend onwards" but warned against expecting too much when the heat does return.

"The remnants of ex-Tropical Storm Debby were mixed up in low pressure bringing rain in the West on Saturday and to all areas on Sunday, when rain could be especially heavy in the South.

"It stays unsettled on Monday in the East, and after the South could see 27C on Tuesday or Wednesday, a cold front brings rain for parts.”

Bookies Ladbrokes recently slashed its odds from 3/1 to 2/1 that this month would go down as the hottest August on record. The hottest temperature ever seen in the UK was 38.5C, recorded at Faversham in Kent on 10 August 2003.

Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: “We’ve had glorious weather over the last few weeks and as Brits prepare for summer holidays, it looks as though they’d be better off staying in this country to top up on their tans!”