UK weather: Maps turn red as Saharan plume heads for Britain as temperatures rocket again
Temperatures in Britain peaked at 26C on Sunday as it marked the hottest weekend this year.
As the UK sizzled over the weekend in a surprising "mini-heatwave", Britons have been left wanting more as temperatures plummet once again and rain makes its way across the region this week.
But the warm weather is just getting started, with weather maps showing another spike from May 23 as temperatures are expected to reach 22C.
Temperatures are set to be warmest in the midlands and the North East of England, with Yorkshire set to see highs of 22C.
Meanwhile, London will also peak at 22C, while Northern Ireland could see highs of 23C. And the weather maps indicate the temperatures are set to remain over the weekend, with sunshine forecast.
In its long-range forecast, the Met Office said it is "still feeling warm" throughout the week.
London and Cambridge were pinpointed as some of the warmest areas in the UK over the weekend, with thousands flocking to beaches and parks to soak in the warmer weather.
This week will see showers throughout the week, with the Met Office issuing weather warnings for flooding. From Wednesday, it warns of "thundery showers" that are expected to hit on Friday.
And while temperatures of 26C were recorded on Sunday, lows of 17C are expected in London this week, while North England will drop to around 16C.
There are currently two flood warnings in place, with a further 45 flood alerts warning of "travel disruption" over the coming week.
Met Office long-range forecast
Friday 17 May - Sunday 26 May
Changeable with showers developing by day across the UK through the end of the week and over the weekend. The heaviest showers and greatest risk of thunderstorms across southern parts. Temperatures generally around or just a little above average, though with winds tending to be light, still feeling warm in sunnier areas. Over the weekend there are signs that showers may start to ease from the north with drier, more settled conditions probably becoming established for a time. Confidence lowers into the following week with signals unclear how prolonged the influence of higher pressure will be. So after a potentially more settled spell of weather, unsettled conditions are likely to return during the week with the wettest conditions in the west. Above average temperatures more likely than below.
Monday 27 May - Monday 10 Jun
Signals during this period are weak and offer limited guidance beyond climatology. Similar weather conditions to those of the preceding few days are most likely to characterise this period to the end of May; a mixture of unsettled periods with rain and showers and settled interludes in-between. By early June, the chances of above and below average rainfall are evenly balanced. There is a slightly higher likelihood of above average temperatures compared with below average temperatures, such that the chance of hot spells, although still very small, is slightly higher than normal too.