The UK has been basking in hot summer weather this week, but a new forecast predicts that temperatures will tumble soon. Weather maps from forecaster WXCHARTS, aided by Metdesk data, show a sudden drop in temperatures across the UK, with one area as low as 3C.

The maps show the mercury falling to its lowest of 3C near Inverness in northern Scotland at 6am on August 21. Much of Scotland looks set for temperatures of 5C and below at this time.

Meanwhile, England will see lows of 4C in the north near the North Pennines while the rest of the country will see temperatures of between 6C and highs of 13C in East Anglia.

Temperatures will pick up slightly by midday, the maps show, but 13C will remain the highest temperature across the country.

However, by 6pm on August 21, the minimum temperature maps show parts of southern England reaching 20C while most of Scotland enjoys average temperatures of 13C and above.

The Met Office forecast for Wednesday, August 20 - Friday, August 29, predicts high pressure drifting toward the northwest, leading to cooler conditions.

The service adds that fine and dry conditions will follow before Atlantic weather systems bring wetter and windier conditions in the final weeks of August.

However, the Met Office says "there is much uncertainty in this aspect of the forecast."

As for the first half of September, the Met Office expects windy conditions with changeable weather.

They add: "Whether this takes the form of further low-pressure systems running in from the Atlantic, or a rather more slowly evolving weather pattern is less clear. Temperatures are likely be near to above average overall."