Swindon is set for a stormy start to the working week.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms that covers the town on both Monday and Tuesday (June 24 and 25). Thunder is forecast between 9am and 10am on Monday morning, with further outbreaks possible across the 48 hours that follow.

The national weather service says that these could potentially be severe, bringing a risk of flooding and disruption to travel.

But the turbulent conditions are not likely to last, with temperatures climbing throughout the week and set to peak at 27C in Swindon on Friday - good news for the thousands of revellers heading west for the Glastonbury Festival from Wednesday.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Dan Suri, said: “It’s going to feel much hotter for most areas across the UK this week.

"Our latest forecasts show the highest temperatures are expected towards the end of the week, most likely across central and southwest England, where temperatures could rise into the low 30s Celsius.

“This will be in stark contrast to the low temperatures we’ve had so far this June.  It’s also going to feel humid and quite muggy - especially at night time - as temperatures could remain in the high teens or low 20s Celsius in places.” 

Dan continued: “Whilst some places within warning areas could miss thunderstorms altogether and enjoy a warm, bright day, where they do develop torrential downpours, hail, lightning and gusty winds are likely and a few spots could see as much as 40-60mm of rain in one hour – which is very unusual for the UK."

Why are we getting this change in weather? 

The Met Office says: "For most of this month an omega blocking pattern in the north Atlantic means the UK has been stuck under an area of low pressure, bringing spells of heavy rain and thunderstorms. Over the next few days this omega block will shift slightly, nudging the centre of the low pressure to the southwest of the UK.  This small change will allow very warm air to be drawn upwards from southern Europe and north Africa towards northern Europe, the UK and Ireland. High temperatures are expected across parts of western Europe, with the possibility of near record-breaking June temperatures in countries including France, Germany and the Netherlands."