New dramatic weather maps reveal that severe thunderstorms are set to batter parts of the UK on Sunday.Fuelle d by gales of up to 45mph, a band of low pressure will sweep in from the south, leading to heavy downpours, particularly across the Southeast and East of England.

This tempest follows hot on the heels of Storm Amy earlier this month, which tragically resulted in the death of a man in Ireland. While meteorologists have not yet classified the upcoming weather system as a named storm, there is concern over the volume of rainfall and the strength of the winds expected on Sunday.

The worst conditions are predicted for the evening, from around 7pm, and are likely to persist through the night into Monday.

The maps below, marked with red hues, indicate the areas expected to receive the heaviest rain - up to 17mm in approximately three hours. The coastline along East Sussex, West Sussex and Kent is likely to bear the brunt of the storm.

As the storm moves northwards over London during the evening, Essex and Suffolk will be affected late into Sunday night, according to the maps, reports the Mirror.

The data, published by Ventusky and based on information from Metdesk meteorologists, also suggests that Norfolk will experience heavy rain on Monday morning as the band of low pressure pushes northeast and eventually out into the North Sea.

This forecast starkly contrasts with the rest of this week's weather, which is expected to be mild and balmy. On Monday, temperatures reached a pleasant 18.6C near Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, and hit 18C in Shoeburyness, Essex.

But temperatures will begin to drop, particularly as gales intensify on Sunday. The southerly winds will be at their fiercest - reaching up to 45mph in some areas - along the coastline from Hampshire to East Sussex, according to Metdesk data.

The gales will shift to westerly later in the night and affect Kent - though with reduced intensity and weaker speeds.

The wind will make it feel like 9C or 10C across parts of Southeast England on Sunday afternoon and evening, several degrees chillier than the actual air temperature. Even so, the mercury will have plummeted by around 9C in some locations by Sunday.

In its long-range forecast, the Met Office states: "Low pressure systems will likely move west across the UK in some fashion bringing spells of rain, that may be heavy at times, and periods of stronger winds."

It also warns that most mornings this week will see fog blanketing most regions, particularly on Friday across Wales, the Home Counties and parts of the Midlands.

However, crucially, no substantial rainfall is expected until the storm arrives from the south. The only light rain forecast should affect Southeast England on Thursday.

Thunderstorms to batter UK in days as warning for 45mph gales and heavy rain issued - Daily Star