The UK is set to be hotter than Athens on Friday as temperatures are forecast to climb to 26C in London, according to the Met Office. The country is expected to bask in sunshine, with temperatures in the low-to-mid-20s ahead of the late May bank holiday weekend.
Regional temperature forecasts
The Met Office predicts highs of 23C in Manchester, 26C in London, and 20C in Cardiff by the end of the week. The warm weather is set to continue into the bank holiday weekend, with highs of 23C on Saturday in the capital and 24C on both Sunday and Monday.
Met Office meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth said in an online forecast: "From Thursday onwards, temperatures could rise above average, approaching 20C for some across southern areas. We could be closer to the mid-20s, possibly, for some areas, in the South East, by the bank holiday weekend."
Change from recent cool conditions
The warm weather comes as a welcome change from the chilly winds and showers that swept across northern parts of the UK this weekend. However, some showers are expected for the first half of the week before temperatures start to rise.
Craig Snell, a forecaster at the Met Office, said: "Temperatures at the start of the week are still a little subdued for the time of the year; as we head towards the weekend, we are expecting to see a change."
Monday to Wednesday outlook
Monday will be a day of sunshine and showers, some of which could be heavy with the occasional rumble of thunder, before a band of rain moves across most of the UK later in the day, Mr Snell said. Blustery conditions are expected into Tuesday, with wind and rain, sometimes heavy, along with thunder. On Wednesday, there will be a mixture of sunshine and showers, but temperatures in the south of England will climb towards 20C.
Thursday and Friday outlook
On Thursday and Friday, it will be increasingly drier and brighter, especially for England and Wales. Maximum temperatures of 26C could be seen on Friday in the South East, Mr Snell added. "The best of the sunshine across the bank holiday weekend will probably be across England and Wales," he said.
Four-day weather forecast
Monday PM: Sunshine and showers will continue for many, with a band of more persistent rain moving into Northern Ireland, Wales and southwest England by evening. Temperatures near or a little below average.
Outlook for Tuesday to Thursday: Unsettled at first with showers or longer spells of rain. Turning drier from Thursday for many and starting to become warmer.
