After intense heat and torrential rain in recent days, the UK is set for a mix of sunshine and showers.
The Met Office said “more typical” summer weather is in store after days of amber and yellow thunderstorm warnings for much of the country.
Between Sunday and Wednesday, the UK had 26,718 lightning strikes – more than half of all UK lightning strikes (49,439) in the past 12 months.
This week’s thunderstorms produced torrential downpours in parts, leading to surface-water flooding and travel disruption, with much of the rainwater unable to sink into the hard-baked ground.
“It will be comfortable for most of the UK compared to the extreme heat we have been experiencing," said Meteorological Office forecaster Craig Snell.
“Any rain that does fall from the sky will generally be much lighter than it has been.
“It will be a mixture of sunshine and showers, with the majority of the showers across the northern half of the country over the next few days.”
High Beech in Essex had the most rainfall with 64.4 millimetres, reached during a three-hour downpour on Wednesday.
The Met Office said Holbeach in Lincolnshire had double its usual August usual rainfall for the region overnight from Tuesday into Wednesday, with 138.8mm.
Thunderstorms and heavy rain bring Britain's heatwave to an end - in pictures
-
Lightning strikes during a thunderstorm in Dundee, in eastern Scotland. Reuters -
Flooding in Port Talbot, south Wales. Yellow weather warnings are in place for most of the UK. PA -
A pedestrian with an umbrella and Big Ben are reflected in a puddle near the Houses of Parliament, in central London. AP -
A boy struggles with an umbrella amid blustery conditions on the South Bank, in central London. PA -
A man leaps over a puddle as shoppers rush through a heavy downpour in London. Getty Images -
Tourists in London. The Met Office has issued a yellow thunderstorm warning for England and Wales. AP -
People caught in the rain on the Millennium Bridge in London. PA -
A woman opposite the Elizabeth Tower, also known as Big Ben, in London. AP -
Visitors to the National Waterways Museum use umbrellas during a spell of rain in Ellesmere Port. Getty Images -
A woman walks in the rain in central London. EPA -
Flooding in Tullow, in Ireland. Heavy downpours and flooding have hit parts of the country as thunderstorms marked the end of the heatwave. PA -
Lightning striking across Wishaw, North Lanarkshire. PA -
A resident makes his way through the flooding in Tullow in Ireland. PA -
Members of staff at The Milky Way in Devon, clearing out floodwater inside the premises, as heavy rain and flooding hit areas in Cornwall and Devon. PA
Storms on Wednesday flooded some of London’s transport stations and streets, while England’s Test match against South Africa at Lord’s cricket ground drew to an early close.
Some shops and platforms at central London’s busy Victoria Station were forced to shut temporarily after flooding at the main entrance led to a deluge of water running down a slope towards the eastern concourse.
Town hall officials in Hackney warned residents that “severe flooding” meant they should avoid Stoke Newington in the east London borough, and said they were working to clear drains and distribute sandbags.
Nottinghamshire County Council said at least 30 homes and businesses in the region were hit by downpours and a 2.5 metre-wide sinkhole reportedly appeared in a Matalan car park.
There will be early rain on Friday, which may be heavy for some, across south-east England, the Met Office said, with much of England and Wales possibly enjoying warm, sunny spells.
It may be breezy, but sunshine and scattered showers are expected for Northern England and Scotland on Friday.
Heavy rain causes flooding in parts of the UK - in pictures
-
A car negotiates a flooded section of road in London, as torrential rain and thunderstorms hit many parts of the UK. Getty Images -
Pedestrians get soaked crossing London Bridge in the capital. Britain's Met Office issued multiple flood warnings. EPA -
Sheltering from the rain at the seafront in Seaford, East Sussex, on England's south coast. Britain had been suffering a heatwave, with drought declared for parts of the country. Getty -
A pedestrian is caught in the open in London during the downpour. The Met Office issued yellow thunderstorm warning forecasts for parts of England and Wales. PA -
A pedestrian tries to keep dry crossing the road in a very wet London. Getty -
Pedestrians shelter from torrential rain at the entrance to Blackhorse Road London Underground station, in north-east London. Getty -
A fire engine negotiates a flooded section of road in London. Getty -
A car sends floodwater spraying in its wake in London. The rain eased later in the week. Getty -
The gym at the Houses of Parliament in central London is flooded after torrential rain hit the capital. PA -
Pedestrians brave the downpour to cross Millennium Bridge in London, with St Paul's Cathedral almost obscured by the rain. PA -
Parts of Clapham Common, in south London, are flooded by the downpour, while areas of parched grass bear testimony to the recent drought. Reuters -
Pedestrians find a dry path in London. AP -
Covers protect the wicket during the Royal London Cup match between Essex Eagles and Yorkshire Vikings at Cloudfm County Ground in Chelmsford, south-east England. Getty
Thames Water, which supplies 15 million people, this week said it would put a hosepipe ban in place next week.
Despite the recent rain, the company said water levels in its reservoirs were “much lower than usual”, with the ban in effect from August 24.
The firm joins Welsh Water, Southern Water and South East Water in implementing bans, with South West Water and Yorkshire Water following on August 23 and 26 respectively.
Last month was the driest July in England for 50 years and the driest first half of the year since 1976, while a heatwave sent temperatures in the UK to above 40ºC for the first time on record.
Soaring temperatures and lack of rain leaves parts of UK parched - video
But the Environment Agency said it would take weeks of rain to replenish water supplies and end the drought.
“We have a typical summer weekend coming up," Mr Snell said.
“It is going to be a changeable week and we can expect some more rain in places, chiefly in the north but with temperatures nearer to where they should be rather than in the 30ºCs that we had last week.”
That could mean temperatures of about 19ºC in Scotland and about 25ºC in south-east England by the weekend.
There could be sunshine and showers across the north on Friday and, after a wet start in the south-east of England, the region is set to have a fine and dry day.
Mr Snell said the recent downpours caused disruption but were “hit and miss” in terms of the areas it affected.
“I imagine for some people the rain is a nuisance but for others, I imagine they will have a smile on their face, because even though we have had some torrential downpours in places, there are still some parts in the UK that still have not seen a lot of rain,” he said.
