Brits can enjoy a scorching weekend with sunshine and blue skies for much of the country as the mercury is set to hit 24C making it the hottest day of the year.
The temperature has been rising over the past few days as the unsettled weather slowly makes way for a North African plume with hot air moving up from the south.
But along with the hot weather ideal for a barbecue, the Met Office has issued a warning that there could be showers and thunderstorms in the evening on Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday could be "16-19C widely - with 24C the possible high in the South East and that would make it the warmest day of the year so far", according to Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern.
And the hot temperatures make it warmer than holiday hotspots in Spain like Barcelona or Ibiza.
Widespread sunshine is set to be present from the north of Scotland to the south of England, with just some patchy cloud in the North and West.
The warm air is also likely to spark a few heavy showers.
Mr McGivern said: "By Saturday evening, those showers would be making an appearance into the South West, spreading quite widely into southern parts of England and south Wales.
"In some places, it would just be a spell of rain but for central and southern England and the south coast there is the risk of some heavy downpours, thunderstorms and frequent lightning."
Sunday is looking like another warm day.
The warm air from North Africa is set to bring above-average temperatures also into next week, but it will continue to be broken up with potentially heavy or thundery showers.
The Met Office said that parts of the South East could potentially reach top temperatures for the week of 25C-27C.
Met Office spokesman Richard Miles said "at the moment Tuesday looks like being the warmest day of the week".
Throughout the week, some people will enjoy warm sunny spells but heavy showers are set to move across the whole of the country, particularly in the North and West.
These might be thundery at times in parts of the south, central England and south-west Scotland.
Met Office chief meteorologist Andy Page said: "The plume of warm air we have been expecting from the south will bring higher temperatures across the whole country over the next week.
"However, it looks like the effects from the Atlantic lows will prevent sustained high pressure building from the east.
"This means that while we might see some warm - and in places very warm - days, overall the next week will feel more like what we would expect of a warm spell in May, with some heavy showers around, rather than hot summery weather."
UK forecast for the next 5 days
Mostly fine and warm today.
Today:
Light rain and drizzle across northern Scotland slowly clearing. Dry elsewhere with plenty of warm sunshine and light winds. Some showery rain reaching parts of southwest England toward evening.
Tonight:
Northern Britain staying dry with clear spells. Showery rain in the southwest, heavy at times with a small chance of thunder, moving slowly northeastwards.
Sunday:
Cloud and outbreaks of rain moving northwards across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland. Turning brighter in the south and feeling warm and humid.
Outlook for Monday to Wednesday:
Warm with showers or longer spells of rain at times, thundery at times. Best of the dry, sunny weather in the SE. Some eastern coasts cooler and misty.
