Brit sunseekers are set for a treat this weekend with plenty of scorching rays for much of the country and highs of 27C.
While there will be clouds and showers in the north of the UK most areas will see long spells of sunshine although this is not good news for parts of the south which are badly in need of rain.
The main concern from weather forecasters in recent weeks has been the lack of rain for the south east of the UK and a ten-day outlook doesn’t make for good reading as there is little on the horizon.
Next week there is the possibility of another heatwave with temperatures ramping up into the low 30Cs by Thursday and Friday.
This weekend it will also be hot and sunny with highs of 25C on Saturday and then a couple of degrees more on Sunday.
Met Office forecaster Alex Deakin said: “If you are after rainfall it’s not good news but if you fancy sunny spells this weekend then for most you are in for a treat thanks to an area of high pressure which slowly but surely is toppling in over the UK.
“It’s not fine everywhere, however, there is this weather front approaching just dancing around the top of that high bringing some cloud and patchy rain during Saturday.”
It’s going to be a chilly start to Saturday with single figure temperatures for some areas before the mercury quickly rises during the day.
"For Northern Ireland and Scotland some rain drifting in on that weather front mostly fairly light and drifting from west to east and likely to stay fairly cloudy with rain and drizzle on and off across the northern isles and northern parts of the Highlands throughout the day," said Mr Deakin.
"Maybe one or two more showers come in the afternoon for Northern Ireland, central Scotland but it should brighten up here and across eastern Scotland too.
"Certainly across England and Wales it will stay dry, cloudy at times over northern England but we will see some sunny spells coming through lifting the temperatures certainly in the south to the low and even mid 20Cs after that chilly start. Further north temperatures mainly in the high teens, we may see them sneak up to 20C in eastern Scotland if we see some later afternoon sunshine."
It is a similar outlook for Sunday but slightly hotter with more areas seeing temperatures in the 20Cs and highs of 27C.
Then there is the possibility of a heatwave around the corner with Met Office forecaster Stephen Dixon saying: “There’s a chance some areas could reach heatwave conditions next week."
UK forecast for the next 5 days
South, dry, sunny and warm; north, breezy with some rain.
Today:
Southern and central parts will have a dry and warm day with sunny periods. Cloudier further north, perhaps a few showers for Northern Ireland and southern Scotland, with more in way of rain for northwest and northern Scotland where windy.
Tonight:
Further rain at times across the north, whilst central and southern parts dry with clear periods and just a few shallow mist patches for parts of Wales and the southwest.
Sunday:
Further rain at times for northern and western Scotland and for a time in southern, fringing Northern Ireland. Else, dry and warm with spells of sunshine, best in the south.
Outlook for Monday to Wednesday:
Mainly dry with light winds and lengthy sunny spells, but cloud, rain and stronger winds at times for north/northwest Scotland. Becoming warmer everywhere, locally hot in the south from Tuesday.
