According to the Met Office*, a 30 per cent chance of rain has been predicted for Wednesday morning between 8am and 10am in parts of south and mid Essex including Maldon, Witham, Brentwood, Grays, Basildon, and Southend. On Thursday, showers are expected in Colchester, Manningtree, and Frinton at around 3pm, with rain forecast for Harwich between 3pm and 7pm. More rain is expected in parts of the county such as Braintree, Halstead, and Epping at around 4pm on Sunday, according to the Met Office. Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said: "We're going with a headline of 34C on Monday, but with a potential for local 35C in the South East, the Midlands into the low 30s as well. "So central and southern England, widely high 20s to low 30s, and approaching or if not touching, the mid 30s in the South East.