Brits have flocked to beaches today as a mini- heatwave is set to last well into next week.
Sun-seekers were seen enjoying the rays in Lyme Regis, Dorset as the mercury is predicted to get up to 22C in southern parts of the country.
There will be more above-average temperatures in the UK this weekend making spring feel more like summer, but it is likely to feel marginally cooler.
The mercury is expected to remain in the high teens and the low 20s in the south of England thanks to a high-pressure system brought by southwesterly winds from the Azores.
A high of 23C is possible on Monday, according to the Met Office, with temperatures in the high teens for much of the south of England.
But while some will be soaking up glorious sunshine there will also be clouds and rain in parts of the north and west of England keeping the temperature down.
The Met Office forecast is for widespread settled weather next week, with any rain confined to western and northern areas: “Temperatures are likely to rise above average through the first few days, except nearer to the coast and perhaps the far north, which may see slightly cooler conditions, and it is expected to become warm, perhaps very warm, later in the period.”
A heatwave is defined as three consecutive days or more of a certain temperature threshold being reached or exceeded.
Current forecasts see temperatures dipping back into the teens from the middle of the week, ending the mini-heatwave - although there's signs it could be back by the weekend.
Meteorologist Dan Stroud said there will be "decent sunny spells" across much of England and Wales, while the temperatures will be cooler for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
He said: "We're thinking at the moment we're going to see a legacy of cloud and outbreaks of rain clear in the south-east on Saturday morning and then brightening up from the north and the west.
"Some decent sunny spells and feeling rather warm in the sunshine across many areas of England and Wales.
"Temperatures a bit cooler further north, closer to the seasonal average in Northern Ireland and Scotland."
Next week is "a bit of a mixed bag", Mr Stroud said.
He added: "We're going to see temperatures generally above average for a good portion of next week but the caveat will be that there will be bands of cloud and rain around at times so it's not plain sailing unfortunately all the way through.
"There is a hint that we might see something warmer towards the back end of next week and running into the following weekend but that's a long way off."
