UK weather – Bad news for tennis fans as RAIN set to hit Wimbledon after 24C sun

TENNIS fans should brace themselves for rain as heavy showers are set to hit Wimbledon.

Forecasters are warning that downpours are on the cards just as the tennis quarter-finals kick off in London.

PA

Spectators in ponchos as rain stopped play on day two of Wimbledon[/caption]

EPA

Rain covers are out on the courts at the Wimbledon Championships last week[/caption]

The Met Office say the UK will be treated to highs of highs of 24C before the rain starts falling.

In London, it will begin to fall at 2pm – as hundreds pile into centre court in Wimbledon.

It comes as quarter-final action begins today as Novak Djokovic faces Andrey Rublev.

Elsewhere, US star Jess Pegula faces her own last-eight match-up while Iga Swiatek faces Elina Svitolina.

And in the other men’s quarter, No 8 seed Jannik Sinner takes on Roman Safiullin.

However, elsewhere in the UK will see some sun.

The Met Office forecast reads: “Rain clearing from the southeast during the morning. 

“Elsewhere it’s a day of sunny spells and showers, these most frequent in the north, perhaps with thunder and hail. 

“Near average temperatures, with highs of 24 Celsius in eastern England.

“Showers quickly fading during the evening, leaving most places dry with clear spells, however some showers will linger across the north and west. 

“Feeling a little fresher than Monday night.”

From mid-week until Friday similar weather is expected – with unsettled conditions.

The Met said it’s likely to be torrential and thundery across the country – and especially breezy in the south.

And, the mercury is set to plunge to 8C in the early hours of Friday morning in the Scottish Highlands.

In its long-range forecast for the weekend it said: “A mostly unsettled picture across the UK for much of this period, with a mixture of sunny spells and showers, but also the potential for longer spells of rain from time to time.

“Some of the showers will likely be heavy and thundery at times. With time, low pressure is forecast to become centred to the northeast of the UK, with higher pressure trying to edge in from the southwest.

“Given this synoptic set up, it will often be breezy, although winds may be light towards northeastern areas at first, meaning showers will be slow-moving here.

“With the airmass predominantly originating from the North Atlantic, temperatures will often be on the cool side for the time of year. Perhaps becoming a little more settled by the end of the period.”