Hurricane warning: heavy rain from tropical storm to hit this weekend

Heavy rain will drench swathes of the country as a blast of tropical air pushes temperatures into the 80Fs elsewhere. After the storm has passed it will pave the way for a "return to

summer" later next week, forecasters say. Ex-hurricane Gert will sweep the west coast on Sunday night after hurtling across the Atlantic from the US. It will have weakened by the time

it reaches Britain bringing stormy conditions mainly to northern and western parts into next week. Temperatures could hit 28C (82.4F) as Gert pulls a swathe of muggy air in from the

Atlantic, according to the Met Office. The mercury will hover around the mid 20Cs in the south with the high teens or perhaps 20C (68F) forecast further north. Met Office forecaster Luke

Miall said: “What’s left of Gert will become part of a bigger area of low pressure by the time it gets to the UK later on Sunday. “The first signs will probably be rain across the west and

southwest with a deteriorating picture into Monday. “The main low pressure system will then move to the north bringing more rain with the heaviest showers expected in western Scotland. “The

south is likely to see brighter skies and it will be quite warm and humid thanks to the air brought by Gert. “We could see 27C (80.6F) or 28C (82.4F) in the sun during the start of the week

when the effects of Gert really start to come into play. “It is important to note that there is a lot of uncertainty over the exact path and where the effects will be felt but anywhere could

see rain with the north and west most at risk into next week.” Areas which escape the main thrust of the stormy conditions could enjoy an improvement in the weather. Low pressure passing

over the north will allow high pressure to build elsewhere bringing blue skies and sunshine. The knock-on effects of Gert could “save summer” in parts of the country which dodge the rain,

according to some experts. Jim Dale, forecaster for British Weather Services, said a general improvement is on the cards from the middle of next week. He said: “Ex-hurricanes tend to be a

game changer and after it has passed we expect high pressure to rebuild, this is likely after Wednesday and towards the weekend. “What’s left of Gert is expected to reach the UK on Sunday

and it is a messy picture ahead for the next few days. “Associated fronts could bring rain almost anywhere although the main system is passing over the north of Scotland. “This will help

high pressure build to the south and once the system has passed away from the UK we could see a return to summer for much of the country.” Forecasters agree sun-starved Britons are likely to

enjoy a burst of much better weather towards the end of next week. High pressure – the trigger for clear skies and sunshine during summer – will build pulling warm air in from the Azores

off the coast of Portugal. While temperatures will drop next weekend much of the country will stay drier and brighter than of late. James Madden, forecaster for Exacta Weather, said: “It is

safe to say that summer isn't quite over just yet. “High pressure will begin to build in across the country next week to bring a late taste of summer  with temperatures in the mid to

high 20Cs. “This is likely to become an extended period of late summer warmth and will end the meteorological summer on a high note.” A spokesperson for The Weather Channel added: “It will

be changeable for the next five days, with low pressure cells and associated frontal systems bringing further cloud and rain, occasionally heavy. “But there will be some drier and brighter

interludes at times and temperatures will fluctuate around average.”