The UK has basked in warm weather this week with temperatures hitting 28C in London on Thursday. The Met Office confirmed it was officially the hottest start to May on record, beating the previous high of 27.4C at Lossiemouth, in Scotland, in 1990.

However, long-range weather maps from WX Charts show a large band of rain on the way to the UK. The barrage of rainfall is expected to hit England and Wales on Friday, May 16 bringing up to 9mm of downpours. Temperatures are also expected to drop across the UK, according to the maps.

The weather maps show a band of rain stretching over Wales and England at 6pm on May 16. It covers major cities including Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester. The Yorkshire Dales will also be hit by a heavy deluge of rain, the maps suggest.

There will also be lighter downpours further south, with north Somerset, Wiltshire, Oxford, Berkshire and west London expected to be hit. Parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland will also see patches of rainfall.

WX Charts is predicting up to 6mm of rain to fall in western parts of Wales on May 16. Meanwhile, up to 9mm is expected to fall on the Yorkshire Dales and 4mm across the Midlands.

The mercury will also drop across the UK on May 16. According to WX Charts, the Midlands will see high temperatures of 12C at 6pm while Norwich will have highs of 11C.

In Wales, there will be high temperatures of 14C while it will be 13C in London. The south coast of England will see highs of 13C at the same time.

The Met Office long-range forecast for the UK, which runs from Friday, May 16 until Friday, May 30, says there is a "risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms". It adds that temperatures will be around average for the time of year.

On the recent warm weather, the Met Office said: "With the temperature at Kew Gardens reaching 28C and still climbing, it is now officially the warmest start to May on record for the UK. The previous May 1st record high temperature was 27.4C at Lossiemouth in Scotland in 1990."

March was also the sunniest since records began in England in 1910. The UK's average temperature for the month was also 1.3C above normal, while rainfall was at just 43% of the average.

Met Office 5-day forecast for the UK

Today:

Early low cloud clearing in the south and southwest. Some showery rain across central areas at first, though dying out during the morning. Cooler with variable cloud and scattered showers in the north, whilst remaining warmer in the south.

Tonight:

Remaining cloudy in the north with scattered showers. Drier across much of the rest of the UK with clear spells, although a risk of showers along the south coast later.

Saturday:

Showers in the south soon clearing, leaving a dry and sunny day for most. A little cloudier in the far north with patchy rain. Feeling cooler than of late.

Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:

Scattered showers in the south at times, and a few further north, though a lot of dry weather for many with some sunshine. Temperatures dropping, becoming rather cool in places.