Summer sunshine to finally return this week with temperatures set to soar to 28C by the weekend
A tropical blast from the Continent will see Britain bask in sunshine
SUMMER is about to bounce back with a tropical blast from the Continent pushing temperatures to 28C within days.
Brits can finally bid farewell to the grey skies and torrential downpours which have caused flooding over the past fortnight.
Glastonbury-goers may miss the famous mud bath this year with the weather expected to be dry and bright in Somerset.
After a cooler start to the week, temperatures will start to pick up from Thursday, with highs of 28C expected by the weekend.
But the dramatic change in weather will trigger some thundery downpours as unstable air pushes in from the south.
The Met Office said Britain is in for a hot and steamy end to the week after a shaky start with more rain forecast for tomorrow morning.
Forecaster Mark Wilson said: “We have some heavy showers on Sunday night into Monday morning before things start to improve.
“Monday afternoon is looking much brighter and drier and it is looking pretty decent compared to last week with Tuesday fairly settled for the bulk of the UK.
“Towards Thursday warm tropical Continental air will push up from Spain and France and with temperatures in the south reaching the mid to high 20Cs.
“Thursday is looking very warm and humid although with this change there could be the risk of thundery downpours, some of which could be heavy.
“However in contrast to last week they will be fast-moving so we are not expecting the persistent rain which blighted particularly the east over the past week.”
The change in weather is thanks to the jet stream which has picked up speed, pushing rain away from the UK.
Mr Wilson added: “Winds are switching to a more westerly flow bringing a much better picture particularly in eastern regions.
“The jet stream has been quite slow recently allowing heavy bands of rain to stall over the UK, it has now become faster meaning bands of rain will pass quickly.”
But forecasters say rather than blue skies and wall-to-wall sunshine it will feel very hot and muggy around Britain.
Netweather forecaster Nick Finnis said: “Tuesday and Wednesday are looking mostly dry, bright or sunny, though some showers likely across the northwest on Tuesday and perhaps some rain across the far south later on Wednesday.
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“It is turning warmer by mid-week in the south though with temperatures in the low 20s.
“Perhaps warmer still on Thursday and Friday across southern areas with temperatures perhaps reaching the mid-20s.
“There is a risk of some thundery showers across the far south and southeast on Thursday, but a ridge of high pressure keeping most dry and sunny.
“So for once, the Glastonbury Festival, which starts on Wednesday, looks like staying dry, for now.”
James Madden, forecaster for Exacta Weather, said sun-starved Britons can look forward to the hottest spell the year so far.
He said: “Many models are becoming more consistent with a pattern change to dominant high pressure into the final third of the June that will bring a surge in temperatures.
“All in all, we are now only days away from our next heatwave that is likely to bring the hottest temperatures of the year.”
Paddy Power has cut the odds on a heatwave from 8/1 into 7/2 for this week.
Lewis Davey at Paddy Power said: "After weeks of miserable weather you can say goodbye to pasty legs and indoor BBQs as Britain is set for a scorcher."
The Met Office is predicting highs generally of 21C (70F) in the south today (Monday) with 18C (64F) further north.