Wet weekend to bring end to UK hot spell

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jul/31/wet-weekend-end-hot-spell-uk

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Workers have enjoyed the sunshine all week and may have been looking forward to a glorious couple of days off – but it is looking like a wet weekend.

The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for rain, dashing the hopes of people with outdoor plans.

On Saturday, the yellow warning - which instructs people to "be aware" - is in place for north-west and north-east Engand, Yorkshire and Humber, Wales, and south-west Scotland.

On Sunday it remains in place for north-west and north-east England and large parts of Scotland.

Mark Wilson, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said people can expect temperatures to drop significantly too, and described the rain – and in some places strengthening winds – as fairly unusual for this time of year.

"It's going to rain for several hours," he said, adding that there is the potential for as much as 50mm of rainfall in 12 hours in some parts.

Wilson pointed out that many areas will be lucky and escape the worst of the rain, but said the Met Office's advice would be to take notice of the weather warnings in place.

He warned that some parts of south-east England could see some heavy showers on Saturday, but southern areas on Sunday should be dry and generally sunny.

The south-east on Sunday should see highs of around 23C, but in wet areas over the weekend temperatures will only get as high as 18C, Wilson said.

Northern Ireland "doesn't look like it's going to be too bad", he said, adding that there is a lower chance of rain the west than in the east. It could even see some bright sunny spells throughout the weekend.

Going into next week, the meteorologist said it was unlikely that the great weather we have had would return.

"It doesn't look like it's going to go back to the weather we've had ... the high temperatures. There will be a few showers around. Temperatures will be lower at 20C to 23C," he said.