UK weather: Voters head to the polls in 22C sunshine as warm blast makes return after disappointing start to July - but it won't last for long with more showers set to soak Britain this weekend
The UK will see a national weather divide on General Election day, with 22C (72F) sunshine in southern England but 50mph winds and rain in the North and Scotland.
South-eastern parts of the country especially areas around London will experience the brightest and warmest weather today as voters head to polling stations.
But strong winds and chillier temperatures will hit further north as well as showers in West and North West Scotland, North West England and Northern Ireland.
Most of the day's rainfall is expected in North West Scotland, and there were even reports of snow this morning on the tops of some mountains in the Highlands.
Winter made a comeback as snow fell in the Highlands and gales forced speed restrictions on the railways.
Snow blanketed the mountains of Glen Coe after temperatures fell to near freezing on Wednesday night.
The Highlands was hit by gale-force winds and freezing rain and snow as the UK saw a weather divide between north and south
A woman arrives with a dog to vote at a polling station at St Mary's Church in Wimbledon today
Voters outside a polling station near Battersea Power Station in London on a sunny day today
A voter enters a polling station today to cast their vote in Osmotherley, North Yorkshire
People outside the polling station at Pollokshields Burgh Halls in Glasgow during rain today
A wet day in Edinburgh today as people vote in the election at St James' Church, Goldenacre
People outside the polling station at Pollokshields Burgh Halls in Glasgow during rain today
Heavy downpours and strong winds battered coasts and hills, giving a wintry feel to the midsummer weather.
Four flood alerts were issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) in the North and North-West, while motorists were warned of difficult driving conditions.
The Met Office said a strong jet stream in the Atlantic will maintain a changeable theme to the weather which is expected to remain unsettled for days to come.
The jet stream is running across the UK at about 185mph which is very fast for the time of year and will be driving various weather systems as the week continues.
Much of the UK will be on the cooler side of the jet, meaning temperatures will be around or just below average – but it will feel fairly warm in sunshine in the South.
Liam Eslick, meteorologist at the Met Office, said: 'It's going to be quite a windy day across much of the UK.
'The strongest winds are going to be towards Northern Ireland, the western parts of Scotland and northern England.
'It's going to be a windy day for most people but it is going to be bright for central and southern England as well as Wales.'
He added: 'Where you are out of the wind, it will feel rather warm and even pleasant in the sunshine as well, but the further north you go - it is going to be quite chilly and fresh day for many.'
The winds arrived overnight, bringing a blustery day in northern areas today.
Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen said: 'Strong winds are expected on Thursday, with Scotland bearing the brunt.
'Inland areas in Scotland could see gusts of 30mph to 40mph, whilst coastal areas and hills could experience gales with gusts of 40mph to 50mph.
'Along with that wind, the West and North West of Scotland will also see blustery showers, which will perhaps merge into longer spells of rain later.
'A few showers are also likely across Northern Ireland, Wales and northern England, but southern England should remain dry with sunny spells.
'It will feel cooler in the damp North West, but temperatures will be nearer average in the South and South West. That rain is expected to continue in parts of Scotland and perhaps Northern Ireland overnight.'
The strong winds across Scotland and northern England will then ease through tomorrow morning, bringing a breezy and showery afternoon for those areas.
In the South, cloud and outbreaks of rain will spread east through tomorrow, bringing some possibly heavy rain across central and southern England and South Wales.
Between 20mm (0.8in) to 40mm (1.6in) of rain could fall within 12 to 18 hours in places.
Then the weekend will see the weather remain unsettled and cool for the time of year, but there will be some sunshine at times which will see temperatures rise a little.
An active jet stream (shown in pink) is running across the UK at about 185mph which is very strong for the time of year and will be driving various weather systems as the week continues
Early rain over the East and South East of England on Saturday should soon clear, with the weekend then featuring a mixture of sunshine and showers, some of which could be heavy with a risk of hail or thunder.
Forecasters added that more persistent rain is possible at times in northern Scotland, while areas of South West England and Wales are likely to remain the driest overall.
Most areas will feel breezy, with strong winds possible in the far South East of England.
It comes after the UK saw less rainfall than expected in June but the average temperature across the month was below 13C, despite the recent mini-heatwave in some areas.
The Met Office said 55.1mm of rain fell across the country last month, 29 per cent less than the long-term average, while Wales and England saw around half of their expected average amounts.
Jackie and Alan Ward at their polling station caravan in Duxford, Cambridgeshire, today
A person sits outside a polling station at Wimbledon Village in South West London today
People arrive at a polling station during the General Election in Southfields, London, today
A man hangs a polling station sign on a mobile unit at a Lidl car park in Loughborough today
But this did not seem to translate into more generally warmer weather as the average UK mean temperature for June was 12.9C, which was 0.4C below the long-term meteorological average.
The lower June temperatures are in stark contrast to those seen the month prior, where an average temperature of 13.1C saw the warmest May in records dating back to 1884.
It also comes after the UK had its wettest spring since 1986 and the sixth wettest on record.
