Britain is bracing for a dramatic end to its record-breaking heatwave as heavy rain is expected to sweep across the country over a 21-hour period. According to Met Office weather maps, downpours are set to cover a significant portion of the UK, impacting 23 counties during this spell.

Areas such as London, Kent, Cornwall, Greater Manchester, Yorkshire, and Scotland are among those forecasted to experience up to 8mm of rain starting from Monday, June 1 at 1pm, with some regions facing prolonged showers until 10am the following day. This shift in weather comes shortly after the UK saw its hottest May day ever recorded, with temperatures soaring to 35.1C at Kew Gardens in London.

Meteorologists anticipate a transition from scorching temperatures to a more unsettled climate as bands of rain and showers are expected to move in early next week. The Met Office noted that the widespread heatwave will gradually diminish in intensity, leading to cooler and more changeable conditions across many regions.

Chief Forecaster Chris Bulmer highlighted the breakdown of the hot weather pattern, mentioning that while parts of the southeast may still reach highs of 32C on Thursday, fresher conditions will begin to prevail as a weak cold front advances southeastward over the weekend. As the heat subsides, the forecast also includes scattered showers and the potential for thunderstorms.

The Met Office projects that temperatures will return closer to average levels from Monday onward, with intermittent spells of rain or showers predicted to traverse the UK, interspersed with brighter intervals. The weather agency advises that temperatures are likely to normalize compared to the recent heatwave period, signaling a shift to more typical weather patterns for this time of year.