Britons have embraced the first day of rain after 36 days in lockdown with a week's worth set to fall in just 12 hours - a stark contrast to the rest

Britons have embraced the first day of rain after 36 days in lockdown with a week's worth set to fall in just 12 hours - a stark contrast to the rest of this month which saw the sunniest April since records began in 1929, according to forecasters.

The Met Office announced the sunniest April since records began in 1929 with the month seeing 212.5 hours of sunshine so far, compared to 211.9 hours in 2015.

But the latest forecast brings the heatwave crashing to an end with heavy showers in England and Wales today, downpours with sunny spells tomorrow and thunder expected on Thursday. 

Social media users reacted to the abrupt change in conditions, with #rain trending on Twitter as many without gardens are thankful for the respite, while others are relieved they will no longer be tempted outside by the record-breaking heat. 

The weather service said the 'unsettled' theme will likely last into the beginning of May, becoming more 'settled' into the second week, May 11 onward, with 'mixed' conditions until the end of the month.

Temperatures plummeted by 50F (10C) on Monday night with the mercury dropping to around 52F (11C) in London today.   

A woman riding a bike attempts to shelter from water being sprayed by a passing lorry during a heavy downpours on the A40 at Perivale in West London. The public can only leave their homes for exercise or essential shopping during lockdown

An essential worker makes their way across a rain-swept London Bridge while holding an umbrella as wet weather heralds the end of April's hot spell. Showers are expected to become heavy and thundery later this week, on Thursday

One Twitter user posted: 'Lovely start to the day. Loving the sound of rain for a change. Refreshing.' 

Another wrote: 'There's something quite reassuring about the fact that, amid a global pandemic, rain is trending on Twitter in the UK.'

A third added: 'It's rained all night but I suppose that makes it easier to stay at home.'

A fourth said: 'Feel like I've come back off holiday from Costa del Garden.'

Met Office Meteorologist Bonnie Diamond told MailOnline: 'Several weather fronts bringing rain across England and Wales today, we could see 5-15mm of rain within 12 hours, with a few spots seeing 20mm. 

'It is still mostly dry and sunny for Northern Ireland and Scotland today, however tomorrow will see bands of rain moving across all parts of the UK as low pressure returns more widely.' 

Shoppers, some wearing face masks, pictured queuing with trolleys outside Costco in Thurrock. For the rest of today, conditions will be 'cloudy across much of England and Wales' with 'outbreaks of rain moving northwards'

Two nurses stand under an umbrella in the pouring rain outside Southend Hospital in Southend on Sea this morning during the minute's silence for key workers who have died in the coronavirus pandemic

Two local residents each hold an umbrella as they go for a walk in the rain in Abington Park today in Northampton, England. The Prime Minister said the country needs to continue its lockdown measures to avoid a second spike in infections

Shoppers queuing up outside a supermarket in waterproof coats while holding umbrellas at Bridport in Dorset as light rain falls following a wet night which saw temperatures fall by 50F

A shopper wearing a rainproof coat and holding an umbrella as rain falls in Bridport, Dorset. According to the Met Office, the second week of May has the 'best chance' of more 'settled and drier' period

The average monthly rainfall in the UK is 2.9in (72.7mm) - 0.7in (18mm) per week - meaning that parts of Britain will see over a week's worth of rainfall today in just 12 hours. 

For the rest of today, the weather service forecast: 'Cloudy across much of England and Wales with outbreaks of rain moving northwards, heavy in places, and feeling chilly. Brighter across Scotland and Northern Ireland with just a few showers.

'Rain across England and Wales turning light and patchy, but leaving extensive mist, drizzle and low cloud. Clear spells over Scotland leading to a frost in places.'

Eight flood alerts have also been issued across England by the Environment Agency.  

Customers at B&Q in Charlton, South London, shelter from the rain under umbrellas as they queue outside the branch. Met Office meteorologist Bonnie Diamond said the UK could see over half an inch of rain in just 12 hours

Shoppers sheltering under umbrellas form a long queue outside B&Q in Charlton, South London. Social media users reacted to the abrupt change in conditions, with many relieved they will no longer be tempted outside by the record-breaking heat 

Shoppers in the rain with waterproof coats and umbrellas outside Costco in Thurrock during a minute silence to pay tribute to NHS staff and key workers who have died in the coronavirus outbreak

A shopper with an umbrella up at Bridport in Dorset as Britons leave their homes for essential shopping. Bookmaker Coral said there is a 'strong chance' next month could be the wettest May on record in the UK, making it odds-on at 1-2

BBC Meteorologist Matt Taylor also tweeted about the April heatwave, saying 'all areas saw "above average" amounts of sunshine' with some spots 'close to double their norm'.

He added: 'The irony of wet weather today is not lost on me!' 

For Thursday to Saturday, the Met Office forecast: 'Sunny spells and showers for most parts, some heavy with thunder on Thursday. 

'Longer spells of rain possible on Saturday. Likely becoming warmer in the south on Saturday.' 

This month saw the sunniest April since records began (left), but the heatwave has been brought crashing to an end as 5ml to 15ml of rain (right) is expected widely across the UK today

London's Trafalgar Square pictured looking empty on a wet and miserable Tuesday morning during the coronavirus lockdown, bringing the recent April heatwave crashing to an end with heavy showers and thunder expected on Thursday

Regent Street sodden from the rain this morning, remaining empty during the coronavirus pandemic. The UK is in lockdown to slow the spread of coronavirus, with Boris Johnson warning the public against relaxing precautions too soon

The empty spaces of London this morning. It follows the Met Office announcing the sunniest April since records began in 1929 with 212.5 hours of sunshine so far, compared to 211.9 hours in 2015

Commuters drive along the rain-drenched M3 motorway this morning in Camberley, Surrey. Some parts of Britain will see over a week's worth of rainfall today in just 12 hours, with 2.9in as the average monthly rainfall 

In its longer-term forecast, the weather service wrote: 'Looking slightly ahead into the beginning of May, the unsettled theme is likely to continue as Atlantic weather systems bring further bands of rain across to many areas, particularly in the south and the west of the UK.'

It said the second week of May has the 'best chance' of more 'settled and drier' periods with the 'chance of thundery showers' for a few days, then conditions looking 'mixed' until the end of the month.

Meanwhile, bookmaker Coral makes it odds-on at 1-2 for next month being the wettest May on record in the UK.

Coral's John Hill said: 'It's going to be a damp start to the new month and our betting suggests there is a strong chance it will end as the wettest May on record in the UK.'