Heatwave to give way to heavy downpours, hail and the threat of flooding

The country has sweltered as temperatures soared to a seven-year high, but the heatwave is set to give way to heavy downpours, forecasters have warned.

The thermometer reached 33.5C (92.3F) at Heathrow and Northolt, London, the highest temperature recorded this year, and the hottest day since July 20, 2006.

The new high comes as the UK experiences its longest prolonged heatwave in seven years, although temperatures dipped over the weekend.

But the weather is set to break, with thunderstorms due to become widespread today. Some areas could see heavy rain, lightning and even hail.

The Met Office has issued a rain warning for today for most of England including Yorkshire, with localised flooding possible in places.

Although temperatures will be slightly lower than recent highs, it will remain warm and humid over the next few days, with temperatures reaching the mid 20s in the region.

The hot weather has taken its toll on the UK in recent weeks, with grass fires, mountain blazes and forest fires. Hundreds of premature deaths are believed to have been caused by the heatwave.

Andy Page, chief forecaster at the Met Office said: “The UK has seen a particularly dry warm spell of late but this week will see a big change for many. The public are advised to keep up to date with our forecasts and warnings.”

The Met Office warned that alongside potentially significant rainfalls totals, there could also be “large hail from these widespread and energetic storms”.

Fears of dry trackside vegetation catching fire from loco sparks has forced a rail trip company to postpone two journeys of a train hauled by the class A4 steam locomotive Bittern.

The Bittern was due to have carried 404 passengers on a return trip from Bristol to Newcastle upon Tyne via York last Friday as well as taking 326 passengers 
from York to London this Saturday.

Peter Watts, of Pathfinder Tours, said: “We hope to be able to offer these trips possibly at the end of August. We’ve informed everyone involved and when we have new dates they will have the chance to travel or if the date is inconvenient they will be offered their money back.”