The holiday washout looks set to continue this week – but forecasters predict it will then give way to a blistering heatwave.

Gales of more than 50mph will batter coastal areas as "unseasonably strong winds" threaten to disrupt holidaymakers' outdoor activities.

Campers and others planning to spend the day in the great outdoors as part of their summer break have been warned to expect some disruption as strong winds hit the south-west of the country.

A yellow weather warning for Wales, the West Midlands, London and the South East as well as the south-west has been issued by the Met Office.

Forecaster Dean Hall said winds are set to reach speeds of up to 45mph inland, and possibly more than 50mph in coastal areas.

He said: "If you've got a tent and are camping it won't be too pleasant."

Those towing caravans have also been warned of the potential for disruption.

Rain will continue to put a dampener on things and while winds in the south will generally ease on Tuesday (July 28), it will still be breezy.

As we move towards August the weather is set to be "changeable", Mr Hall said.

"We will likely have more unsettled weather with low pressure moving in from the Atlantic. The weather will be changeable, but temperatures are certainly below average for this time of year."

Torrential showers are expected in the next few days and there will be a risk of flash flooding.

Heatwave on its way?

But experts reckon the gloom could be blown away by roasting air from mainland Europe in early August – with temperatures hitting 32C.

Met Office forecaster Rebecca Simpson said: “It is going to stay pretty unsettled over the next week with another low pressure system over the UK.

“Temperatures will be below average for the time of year and it isn’t going to be particularly pleasant with plenty of breeze and showers around.”

Met Office forecaster Mark Wilson added: “Northerly winds picked up, with gusts up to 40mph in exposed parts of the South-West on Sunday and 50-60mph into Monday, with 40-50mph gusts on the south-east coast on Monday and Tuesday.”

But James Madden, forecaster for Exacta Weather, said Britain could soon be in for a repeat of the heatwave which produced the hottest July day on record on July 1 when roads melted and rail services were canceled as rials buckled and Britain recorded a record high temperature for that month with the mercury at 36.7C.

He said: “The transition to warmer and more settled conditions is likely to see temperatures surging to heatwave conditions for many parts of the country during the early part of August as high pressure becomes dominant across our shores.

“This pattern change is likely to be quite significant and it will lead us in to a largely settled August with periods of warm to very hot weather for many, in particular in parts of the south.”

Netweather forecaster Paul Michaelwaite said: “Pressure is expected to be slightly higher than average across the bulk of the British Isles, along with a good deal of Europe during August.

“This is likely to lead to a warmer than average month across the British Isles.”

Until then, a further inch of rain is due in northern England by Tuesday while blustery showers will continue on Wednesday.

So far 2015 has been one of the most unsettled years on record with just eight wind-free days since January.

This is the fewest number of calm days for at least 20 years with none falling during the last three months, according to the Met Office.

Leon Brown, forecaster for The Weather Channel UK, warned swathes of Britain to brace for torrential showers over the next few days.

He said: “Low pressure over the UK will give heavy downpours in northern England and southern Scotland with a risk of flash flooding and thunder and becoming windy too.

“The rain will move southwards early on Tuesday as the weather improves over the north although it will be quite cool everywhere.

“The weekend of August 1 currently looks better with more sunshine.”

Skies are due to clear from Thursday (July 30) with high temperatures limping to only 21C - 3C below average for the time of year.