Britain looks set to warm up once again for the last few days of a record-breaking summer as forecasters expect temperatures to reach 30C this week.
An all-time high of 40.2C in July and a lengthy dry spell that followed have marked out 2022 as a year for the heatwave history books, with some parts of the country seeing virtually no rain for an entire month.
But after torrential downpours and flash flooding washed across many areas last week, new forecasts suggest a fresh round of sunshine will be in store for the final full week of the season.
Shorter days and cooling weather systems as autumn approaches mean things are unlikely to reach the scorching highs seen earlier however, according to the Met Office.
Some could even be caught out by occasional showers, with the weather outlook remaining 'changeable' as we approach the Bank Holiday weekend.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Adam Thornhill, said; "While high pressure often brings fine and dry weather at this time of the year, with this system likely building to the west of the UK, cooler air is forecast to be bought southwards across the country from the north."
"Combine this with daylight hours shortening as we move towards September, and temperatures are unlikely to reach the same level as we have seen at times earlier this summer."
A tweet from the agency on Sunday (August 21) said temperatures may "locally exceed 30C" in "one or two spots across the south and east" this Wednesday (August 24).
The Midlands could see highs in the mid-20s over the next few days, while the mercury will likely remain around the upper teens in much of Scotland.
UK weather forecast:
Rain or showers for some. Turning muggy.
Monday:
Outbreaks of rain, heavy at times, moving eastwards across Northern Ireland, Wales and England. Turning brighter later and feeling warm and humid, but some heavy showers developing. Drier for Scotland.
Outlook for Tuesday to Thursday:
Cloudy with some rain or showers at first, brighter by Thursday. Very warm or hot in the SE at times, perhaps with some thunderstorms here later; temperatures near normal elsewhere.