Gale force winds and hail could hit families’ summer plans this week, warns the Met Office, as it issues its latest bleak forecast for August’s weather.

After close to two weeks of wet and windy conditions that have blighted the start of the school break, predictions point to it being some time yet before most areas see any improvement.

While Tuesday (August 1) is expected to be drier, it is set to be nothing but brief respite from the rain with more heavy downpours expected on Wednesday and Thursday.

These, according to the Met Office, could bring some very strong winds to coastlines along the south and south west and hail to central and southern areas.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Steve Ramsdale, explained: “On Wednesday there is a chance of impacts both from rainfall and strong winds.

“There is also the potential for some heavy and thundery showers, which could be slow moving in places with a risk of hail, across central and southern areas. The stronger winds however are more limited to the south coast.

“With the school holidays underway and many families planning outdoor activities the unseasonably strong winds could also have an impact. While many coastal areas will see breezy conditions at times through the week, some strong or even gale force winds are possible along coastal areas of the south and south-west through Wednesday in particular.”

Further into August

The current cloudy and breezy conditions are as a result of the position of the jet stream over the UK and are being driven in from the Atlantic, meaning that temperatures also remain on the cooler side.

Forecasters looking further into August say there are currently ‘no strong signals’ for any warmer or more settled weather with the wet and windy conditions likely to dominate the entire first half of the new month.

It is only ‘on balance’ says the Met Office that the second half of August could bring some drier and slightly warmer interludes.

However those longing for the return of consistently hot weather before the schools go back may find themselves disappointed.

It is ‘fairly unlikely’, say meteorologists, that there will be any prolonged heat during August and chances of a heatwave are considerably lower this year than they have been in previous Augusts.