UK weather forecast: Five-day heatwave starting today will see Brits bask in temperatures hotter than Barbados and Jamaica

Britons are set to bask in a scorching heatwave over the next five days with temperatures rising to 37C, making much of the south hotter than the Caribbean.

Forecasters say that London is braced for temperatures higher than 30C until Tuesday — with tomorrow seeing the highest.

Much of the south will see the mercury soar higher than the Caribbean, with highs of 33C (91F) expected in Jamaica and 29C (84F) in Barbados.

Meanwhile, the heatwave will see at least 30C "widely" throughout the UK, forecasters added.

The Met Office has issued a hot weather warning, asking people in the South East to close curtains in rooms facing the sun, drink plenty of fluids, avoid excess alcohol, dress appropriately and “slow down when it is hot”.

Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said that after the sizzling heat on Friday, temperatures are set to cool from Saturday through to Tuesday.

But the days will still feel incredibly warm with the mercury hovering around the low to mid-30s, he added.

The heatwave will then come to a "dramatic" end with thunderstorms set to hit in the middle of next week.

Mr Madge said that the UK does not get temperatures of around 36C to 37C every year and that these temperatures are expected in isolated locations like London and the southeast.

He said: "The heat is going to build quite suddenly over the next 48 hours. Given the weather that we have had today it is going to be a steep climb to the hot temperatures on Friday.

"We are going to see the high pressure build quite dramatically," he added. "It is coming very quickly so we are just hoping that people will not be caught out.

"There is also evidence that the hot temperatures will last until early to the middle of next week."

Mr Madge said that the mercury in the south would drop to around 34C on Saturday then 32C on Sunday.

Monday and Tuesday will likely still see temperatures in the low-30s, Mr Madge said.

He added that exactly when the rapid breakdown into thunderstorms will occur is currently uncertain.

Mr Madge said that there is a small chance that last year's record for the UK's highest ever temperature could be broken on Friday, however local records are very likely to be set.

But bookies today slashed the odds, with Ladbrokes now offering 3/1 on the mercury rising higher than the 38.7C recorded at Cambridge University Botanic Garden on July 25 last year.

Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: “Friday looks well on course to be the hottest day since records began.”

The Met Office said there is a chance tomorrow will pass the 37.8C recorded in London last Friday, which was the UK’s hottest day of the year so far and the country’s third warmest ever.

The scorching weather is the result of southerly winds moving from Europe and parts of northern Africa.

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