A 500 MILE wide 'French flare' will bring a scorching three-day heatwave to the UK next week, just days after flash floods and lightning storms.

       The mercury is set to reach 27C on Wednesday amid a blast of warm air straight from the continent - but before that, there'll be plenty more rain.

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       Heavy rain in Cheshire flooded some roads on Sunday morning Credit: Eamonn and James Clarke 22

       But these brave girls didn't worry about taking a coat for their night out in Leeds Credit: NB. PRESS LTD 22

       There'll be plenty more rain to trouble staycationers in the days to come - but better weather will return Credit: Alamy

       The UK is currently enduring its worst school holiday weather in seven years - with a whopping three times the amount of rain usually seen.

       But brighter days are on the way - and a plume of heat straight from the Mediterranean is set to bring 27C sunshine soon.

       Temperatures will hot up between Wednesday and Friday thanks to high pressure over France.

       The south will see 27C, while it'll be 25C further north.

       Brits are advised to make the most of it, as the sunshine will be followed by ten days of downpours.

       However, 28C sunshine will return ahead of the bank holiday.

       Met Office forecaster Becky Mitchell said: "Much of the UK will be dry with some sunny spells on Wednesday.

       "The exception will be Northern Ireland where it will be quite wet and cloudy."

       And she said the summery temperatures are being dragged over by southerly winds - adding: "The warm air is coming from the continent."

       It means there will soon be an end to the relentless rainstorms which have brought flooding misery to millions in the past few weeks.

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       Hardy revellers brave the downpours in Leeds Credit: NB. PRESS LTD 22

       One woman scanned the sky with an umbrella in her hand in London Credit: LNP 22

       Better weather is on the way - but not just yet

       But until then, the nation is braced for a good soaking.

       Yellow storm warnings are in place today and tomorrow, with the Met Office warning lightning strikes could damage buildings.

       Bizarrely, there's also the threat of hail - which could cause chaos for travellers.

       The miserable weather will continue on Monday, with parts of Scotland braced for heavy and thundery downpours.

       Up to 80mm of rain could fall in these parts over several hours, with a chance of "damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds".

       None of the warnings cover the capital, in good news for Londoners who faced flooding misery yet again this weekend.

       Trains were yesterday morning unable to stop at the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Line platforms at Liverpool Street as flash floods drenched the city.

       Underground stations Stepney Green and Holborn were also closed due to the flooding.

       In Tooting, pavements were covered with water, while traffic on the Kingston bypass was forced into a single lane by flooding under a bridge.

       Pavements and roads were also submerged in Battersea and Walthamstow.

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       The miserable weather hasn't stopped these girls dressing up for a big night out in Leeds Credit: NB. PRESS LTD 22

       Cars eased their way through flooding on the Great Western Road, near Drumchapel after heavy rain in Glasgow Credit: PA 22

       Revellers take refuge from the rain on Saturday night Credit: NB PRESS LTD 22

       Punters in Cambridge got a drenching on the River Cam Credit: Geoff Robinson 22

       This weeks weather has been well and truly bananas, as this bunch found out in Leeds Credit: NB PRESS LTD 22

       But brighter days are on the way at last, with 30C sunshine predicted later this month Credit: NETWEATHER

       Meanwhile, bookies say it's an odds-on shot that this will be the wettest summer on record.

       Ladbrokes has slashed odds from 5/4 to just 4/6 on the season entering the record books as the more miserable ever.

       Alex Apati of the bookmakers said: "It's looking increasingly likely this summer will enter the record books for all the wrong reasons with even more rain ready to batter Britain."

       Temperatures this weekend will also be on the cooler side, reaching highs of the low 20s.

       Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: “I think everywhere can expect to see quite heavy showers."

       Some forecasters are predicting much more summery weather within the next fortnight.

       Forecaster Netweather says Europe will be blanketed by hot air from August 19.

       On that date, the mercury will soar across the country, it's believed.

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       Priscilla Aires, 26, covered her head with her jacket on a very drizzly visit to Southend Credit: Louis Wood 22

       The poor weather didn't stop oyster catchers from taking to the sea in Southend, Essex Credit: Louis Wood 22

       The wet weather didn't dampen everyone's spirits Credit: NB PRESS LTD 22

       Brave swimmers took a dip in Eastbourne, East Sussex Credit: jon santa cruz

       Meanwhile, Met Office officials predict "hotter than normal" weather towards the end of the month.

       Meteorologists say that - even though it may not seem like it - this summer has been “warmer and drier than average”.

       “It’s not been wetter on average, but we’ve seen a lot of reports on the news about the flooding," Ms Mitchell said.

       "That’s why it may feel like a bad summer, with not much warmth or sunshine.”

       The only exception to that is in the south-east of England, which has already had 111 per cent of its average rainfall for the summer, she added.

       Worst affected areas were the City of London, with 143 per cent of the average summer rainfall, the Isle of Wight with 174 per cent and Surrey with 126 per cent.

       Brian Gaze, a forecaster for Weather Outlook, said there will be a "very hot pattern" later in the month.

       "Europe setting up a potentially very hot pattern towards the end of the 10 day run," he said.

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       The rain has proved relentless all weekend, but sunshine is finally on its way Credit: NB PRESS LTD 22

       One lad in Leeds took an unexpected tumble into a puddle Credit: NB PRESS LTD 22

       London has seen flash flooding, with a cyclist pictured navigating high water in Sturges Avenue, Walthamstow Credit: PA 22

       There's also flooding in Queenstown Road, Battersea Credit: PA 22

       Cars in Levenshulme, Manchester were submerged by flash floods Credit: Startraks 22

       A rider held on as her horse objected to rough seas in Rhossili Bay, west Wales Credit: JOSHUA BRATT 2021

       "The first half [of August] will see mixed with showers or longer periods of rain, but also warm and fine spells.

       "The driest weather will probably be in the south and east, but a heightened risk of heavy showers or thunderstorms means local variations could be large."

       The weatherman said temperatures could rise above average, with the second half of August promising "settled and very warm periods".

       BBC Weather is also predicting "summer-like" weather for the end of August as high pressure systems push over from the Mediterreanean Sea.

       A forecast covering a stretch between Monday, August 16, and Sunday, August 29 reveals high pressure will "push lows away to the north and allow for some warmer, drier, and more summer-like weather".

       "At first, mid-August will likely see a continuation of the unsettled, cooler, and wetter pattern we expect for the first half of the month," forecasters say.

       "As high pressure slowly pushes northward from the Mediterranean Sea, low-pressure systems caught in the storm track and driven by the jet stream will be deflected northward too.

       "Drier weather should spread in from the south, and this will also bring in a warmer, more tropical air mass to the UK."

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       Brits were told to expect "warmer than normal" temps into late August, with some "very warm or hot days possible if high pressure moves overhead for too long".

       "If the high does linger overhead, a heatwave may develop as well, but confidence is low on this," the BBC team say.

       "Chances for heat increase later in the month, but high pressure will need to move into the correct spot for this to pan out.”

       Met Office reveals exact date August ‘heatwave’ will bring 30C scorcher for 2 weeks