The Met Office has issued a weather warning as Britain braces for hail, thunderstorms, and up to nine hours of rain, just days after basking in the warmest spring temperatures in over 50 years.

Following a brief spell of sunshine and 21°C highs, forecasters have warned of a stark weather shift, with heavy downpours and stormy conditions set to hit large parts of the UK on Sunday.

From Spring Sunshine to Sudden Soaking

Meteorologists say the change in conditions will bring persistent rain, thunder, and even hail, particularly across southern and eastern England, with Londoners told to prepare for up to nine hours of rain beginning Sunday afternoon.

“Heavy showers have developed across eastern parts of England this afternoon, with some hail and thunder mixed in,” the Met Office said in a statement. “Take care if you are travelling, as there could be some localised flooding in places.”

A flood warning has already been issued for Bourne Valley near Salisbury, alongside 18 other alerts across the UK.

Thunderstorms have already made an early appearance, with lightning and thunder heard in North London around 3pm on Saturday.

Forecasters Warn of ‘Surface Water Issues’

Met Office meteorologist Ellie Glaisyer said the UK is in for a period of “changeable conditions”, with scattered showers likely to be “heavy and thundery in places, perhaps with some hail mixed in.”

“With those heavy downpours, there is likely to be some surface water issues, so some localised flooding is possible,” she warned.

Cloudy skies are expected to linger across much of the weekend, bringing a sharp contrast to the sun-drenched scenes earlier this week.

Damp Conditions for the North and Scotland

Further showery rain is forecast for Scotland and parts of Northern England, with increased cloud cover along eastern coastal areas. Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said:

“A damp night is expected for Scotland and into parts of North West England, with low cloud affecting eastern coasts.
The greatest threat of showers will be through central parts of the UK, but they could also hit Wales and southern Scotland.”

He added that Sunday afternoon could see “slow-moving and lively showers” develop in the Midlands, East Anglia, southern England, and South Wales.

Mild Temperatures Despite Storms

Despite the wet and windy forecast, temperatures are expected to remain mild, with highs of around 17°C in London and other parts of southern England. The North and East may feel cooler due to a breeze from the North Sea.

The stormy spell comes on the heels of a record-breaking spring equinox. On Thursday, temperatures peaked at 21.3°C in Northolt (London) and Chertsey (Surrey)—making it the warmest spring equinox day since 1972.

Take Precautions and Stay Updated

As the weekend weather takes a turn, the Met Office is urging the public to stay alert, plan ahead, and take extra care when travelling. Localised flooding and travel disruption remain a possibility.