Milder weather is expected to return to the UK after a rainy start to the week, with temperatures gradually rising back to around 24°C. On Tuesday, heavy rain is forecast to sweep across the country, bringing cooler conditions—temperatures are expected to drop to 11°C in Scotland and 15°C in southern England. Despite the recent rain, much of England and all of Wales are still in drought. This is because drought conditions require sustained rainfall over a longer period to be reversed, and isolated rainfalls or short-term showers are not enough. In the south of England, Tuesday will be the wettest day of the week, while in northern England, Manchester is expected to see showers starting from Thursday afternoon. By Saturday, London will reach 23°C, with temperatures in Cardiff hitting 19°C and Manchester reaching 17°C. The following Monday will see London’s temperatures climb to 24°C, with most of England and Wales experiencing temperatures in the low 20°C range. This marks a warm start to the week, following a summer that was the hottest on record since measurements began nearly 150 years ago. The UK’s summer of 2024 was marked by five separate heatwaves between May and August, which led to widespread drought, wildfires, and travel disruptions. According to the Met Office, the average temperature for June, July, and August was 16.5°C, surpassing the previous record of 16.1°C set in 2023. The highest temperature recorded this summer was 38.1°C at Kew Gardens in London on August 13. Looking ahead, the Met Office predicts that changeable weather with occasional rain or showers will continue to be common in northern and western parts of the UK until the end of September, as moisture arrives from the North Atlantic. However, the south of the country is expected to experience more dry and settled periods. By the end of September, high-pressure systems may become more dominant, leading to warmer days and cooler nights, with more stable weather conditions.