Thunder and hail tonight as temperature drops below freezing before ‘heatwave’ sets in

The UK is set to bask in a blanket of heat after a gruelling night of thunder and heavy hail signals an end to a miserable May and brings highs of 23C this week.

Following the cold and blustery tonight, where temperatures are expected to drop to as low as -4C across eastern parts of the UK, the country will wake up to a sharp chill in the air and frost.

From Sunday, its predicted the UK will be enjoying  widespread sunny conditions, with the mercury expected to reach almost 25C by mid-week, making the UK hotter than Istanbul, Athens and Rome.

The weather is forecast to get a fair bit warmer next week. Temperatures could hit the low 20Cs next week and increase further although clear, cloudless skies will bring some chilly nights.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said:

“Tomorrow will be dry across the majority of the UK, there will be a good deal of sunny weather around.

“Temperatures will reach 19C in London, that will be about as warm as it gets.

“The fine, sunny weather is going to stay with peaks on Wednesday of about 23 or 24C. It will be warmer further north, and in London there will be highs of 20 or 21C…”