UK weather forecast: Enjoy record Easter because storms are on way next week

The glorious Easter bank holiday weather looks set to be short lived as next week's forecasts say the UK will be swapping heat and sunshine for hail and thunder.

Easter Monday is "likely to be the best day so far", said Sky News weather presenter Jo Wheeler, adding that temperatures could reach up to 27C (81F).

These temperatures would make the UK warmer than parts of southern Spain and northern Africa.

It was the hottest day of the year so far on Saturday with temperatures reaching 25.5C (78F) in England, while Easter Sunday was the warmest on record for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

It reached 23.4C (74F) in Edinburgh, while in Wales the hotspot was Hawarden Airport in Flintshire, where it reached 23.2C (73.7F).

Northern Ireland hit 21C (69.8F) at Helen's Bay near Bangor to beat a 95-year record.

But according to the Met Office, thunderstorms from Tuesday onwards could put a halt to the glorious weather.

A "very unsettled" weekend of "heavy rain and the risk of gales" could be expected - a trend the Met Office says might continue until early next month.

Wheeler said: "Tuesday will be another mostly fine day but thunderstorms are likely in the South West. These will move northwards on Wednesday."

She said that next weekend could even bring a named storm.