UK Heatwave Breaks, Rain Arrives

The intense May heatwave that saw temperatures reach a provisional 35C has begun to subside across the UK. Forecasters indicate that a weak cold front is gradually reducing the heat's intensity.

By Friday, weather patterns are set to shift significantly, with rain showers anticipated in 25 different areas. Cooler air will begin to affect northern cities like Glasgow and Inverness by midday, though southern regions may retain some warmth.

Conditions are expected to become more changeable into the weekend. Saturday will start with brightness in eastern and southeastern parts of the country, but rain will advance from the west, signalling an end to prolonged sunshine.

The northwest of England is specifically identified as facing the brunt of Saturday's wet weather. Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and Cheshire are warned of heavy downpours, with the heaviest rainfall concentrated in this broader region.

A north-south divide is predicted to persist throughout the weekend as the cold front moves southeast. Temperatures will fall to near-average levels in the northwest, while southeastern England is expected to stay dry and warm before unsettled conditions become more widespread next week.