UK weather maps sizzle red with eight towns and cities on brink of 'heatwave'

UK weather maps have sizzled yellow and red with the country set to be hotter than Croatia. New UK weather maps have turned black as an African plume looks set to send mercury soaring for 72 hours, according to WX Charts, which uses Met Desk data.

One forecaster and meteorologist says that the top end of temperatures could reach 21C on Friday and possibly Saturday. Jim Dale, founder and senior meteorological consultant at British Weather Services, said that the warmer weather “won’t last”.

But he also said that it’s nonetheless “welcome.” Jo Farrow, a weather expert from Netweather.tv said: “Glasgow will be around 11C this weekend but Cambridge could reach 19C on Saturday." She wrote in a post on her blog: “For Saturday morning there will be bands of rain, with showers to the north and brighter conditions.

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"To the south, there will be more cloud with damp weather for the coasts of western Wales and NW England. Where breaks in the cloud appear, it will be bright, even sunny and warm but the onshore flow could keep things rather grey in the west. During Saturday afternoon there will be sharp showers for Northern Ireland and Scotland, and by evening into northern England."

The expert added: “They will be mixed with sunny spells but also the risk of hail and thunder and by Sunday morning, sleet and snow over the Scottish mountains. For many, Sunday will start fine, bright but feeling fresher. The showers get going through the day with a rash developing for Northern Ireland and Scotland, although the northeast looks more sheltered.

"Elsewhere they are lighter and more scattered with a fair day for many.” Areas set to see temperatures of 19-20C on Thursday and Friday include Norwich in the East of England alongside Ipswich and Halesworth, as well as Hull in Yorkshire, London, Chelmsford, Cambridgeshire, Sudbury.