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A huge stretch of the UK will be hit by heavy rainfall as a stormy weather front chases out the fourth heatwave of the summer. Weather maps from WXCharts show wet and windy conditions descending across a 765-mile stretch of the UK from Saturday, August 23. The disruptive pattern is set to predominantly impact northeastern Scotland, regions along the eastern English coast and the southwest.

It will follow the UK's fourth summer heatwave, with amber heat health alerts issued after temperatures peaked at 33.4C on Tuesday, August 13. The rainy front will begin moving across the country in the early hours of August 23, with a blanket of cool and drizzly weather stretching from Wick in northeastern Scotland to Plymouth in the southwest.

The rainfall will fall non-stop from the early hours until midday in regions including Newcastle, Manchester and Southampton, forecasts suggest, with drizzle continuing until around 6pm.

Temperatures could drop below 10C in Scotland during the same period, while the average across England is set to hover between 12C and 15C. The wet weather will continue to intensify, particularly in Scotland, on August 24, with rainfall of up to 25mm per hour.

It will mark a stark departure from the highs of above 30C recorded across the UK earlier in August, although the Met Office warned that the humid and sunny weather could usher in thunderstorms and heavy showers, especially in the north.

The shift in conditions could begin as soon as Friday, August 15, with forecasters predicting a north/south shift, with fine weather in the south and "cloud and patchy rain" closer to the Scottish border.

The Met Office's long-range forecast also warns of "heavy, thundery showers" in the south between August 17 and 26.

Today:

A warm and sunny day across most of England, with the hottest temperatures in the east. Some thunderstorm risk in Scotland and northern and eastern England.

Tonight:

Clear spells overnight, with above average temperatures. Potentially drizzly and disruptive conditions in Scotland.

Thursday:

Generally bright and sunny, with warm temperatures continuing in the southeast. Cooler conditions possible elsewhere.

Outlook for Friday to Sunday:

Dry and sunny, with some thunderstorm risk in northern regions. Warm temperatures slowly giving way to cooler and cloudier weather over the weekend.