London set for heavy rain after record-breaking heatwave

London is set for a dramatic change in weather conditions, with heavy rain forecast after days of record-breaking heat across the UK.

Temperatures reached 35.1C at Kew Gardens in west London on Monday, according to the Met Office, as much of the country experienced unusually hot conditions.

However, the heat is expected to ease significantly over the coming days, with temperatures in the capital potentially dropping to as low as 11C by the end of next week.

Before then, London is expected to enjoy one final spell of warm weather, with highs of around 30C on Saturday and 24C on Sunday. Rain is forecast to arrive from Monday, marking a sharp contrast to the recent heatwave.

The Met Office predicts some level of rainfall in London every day from Monday through at least next Friday.

Across the UK, showers are expected to be “most frequent and heaviest” in northern and western regions on Sunday.

Forecasters say June will begin with more widespread rain showers, interspersed with some “brighter intervals”.

Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said next week will bring “a change from the heatwave” as temperatures return closer to seasonal averages.

He said: “It’s been quite a dry period of weather and hot period of weather, so it will be probably much needed and much welcome rain to gardeners and growers and farmers with the ground being so dry at the moment.

“So it is a change, but probably a welcome change for those who either don’t like the heat or want some rain.”

Mr Dewhurst added that there are “good signs” warmer weather could return later in June, despite an “unsettled” start to the month.

He said: “Particularly (during) the middle to second half of June, it looks like it starts settling down with higher pressure a bit more dominant again, so an unsettled start to meteorological summer, but there are signs that it does settle down as the month goes on.”

The change in weather comes after England and Wales recorded their hottest May day on record on Tuesday.

The recent heatwave has also been linked to a number of water-related tragedies. On Thursday, the body of 16-year-old Charlie Noble was recovered in Stirlingshire, Scotland, making him the 12th person to die in a water-related incident during the hot spell.

Other fatalities have been reported in South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Cornwall, Hampshire, Warwickshire, Cheshire, Pembrokeshire, Lincolnshire and Lancashire.

Meanwhile, thousands of residents in Kent are expected to continue facing water supply issues this weekend as South East Water struggles to meet demand following the prolonged period of hot weather.

The disruption has forced some businesses to close, while residents have queued at water distribution points after supply problems emerged during the bank holiday weekend heat.