Britain’s scorching heatwave is coming to an end, as heavy downpours are predicted for Saturday, according to the Met Office. The rain is expected to be particularly intense across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of Northwest England. The weather will become increasingly unsettled heading into the weekend, with Friday starting off cloudy across most regions.

Up to 20mm of rain could fall in certain areas of Northern Ireland and western Scotland on Saturday. The rain band will slowly move eastward across the UK, but the Southeast of England may likely avoid rain until Sunday at the earliest.

The Met Office has warned of changing conditions over the weekend. After a sunny start on Saturday, clouds and rain showers are anticipated to move from the west to the east. Heavier rain is expected in the northwest, while the southeast should remain mostly dry. Temperatures will be average in the northwest but above average in the southeast.

This shift marks the conclusion of the blistering heatwave, during which temperatures surpassed 35C. The highest temperature recorded on Wednesday was 31.8C in Whitechurch, Pembrokeshire, South Wales.

Chris Bulmer, the chief forecaster at the Met Office, stated that the hot weather is beginning to dissipate. While parts of the southeast may reach highs of 32C on Thursday, many areas will experience cooler conditions from Friday onwards as a weak cold front moves southeastward across the UK.

As the heat subsides, the weather is expected to become more changeable, with possible showers and thunderstorms. By the weekend, temperatures should return to normal for this time of year, accompanied by rainfall through the weekend and into the following week.

Sunday is also likely to bring more rain and showers, especially in northern and western regions, with some sunny intervals in the east. The Met Office predicts that the unsettled weather pattern will continue into the next week, with temperatures returning to seasonal norms after a period of exceptionally high heat.