Monday was the hottest day of the year in the UK as temperatures reached 21.6C.
Helen's Bay – a coastal village in County Down, Northern Ireland – saw the mercury rise well above 20C.
However, the improved conditions are likely to be short lived, with several flood alerts in place across the UK.
READ MORE: UK set for 10 days of rain as Met Office issues miserable weather forecast
The Met Office is forecasting heavy thunderstorms later today (May 9), with sunshine and showers set to be in place across most of the country.
Rain will clear in the east to make way for sunny spells, although conditions in north-easterly parts are likely to remain overcast.
Showers, including heavy hail and thunder storms, will develop in the west and move slowly across southern and western areas.
Sunny spells and showers will continue into Wednesday (May 10), with thunderstorms likely to return on Thursday (May 11).
Cooler and cloudier conditions in eastern areas will precede some sunshine ahead of the weekend.
Showers in southern areas on Friday (May 12) will make way for drier and sunnier conditions, although it is likely to remain cool and cloudy in the east.
The increase of rainfall over the coming days has led to four flood alerts being issued in Scotland.
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Argyll and Bute, Ayrshire and Arran, Dumfries and Galloway and West Central Scotland all had active flood alerts in place early on Tuesday morning.
In England, a flood warning is active for Upper Frome at Maiden Newton, while 11 flood alerts are in place across the south-west and central areas.
The Met Office expects more settled conditions to take hold later in May, with longer spells of rain and drizzle in the north and better weather likely in the south.
And heading into June “above average temperatures are slightly more likely than below average”.
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