Maps show how hot it will be near you this weekend

Many areas will see the mercury reach 20C to 23C this weekend with isolated pockets as high as 26C.

Ross McGuinness and Ellen Manning
Updated ·5-min read
In the south-east temperatures are set to soar. (Met Office)
In the south-east temperatures are set to soar this weekend, bringing what could be the hottest day of the year. (Met Office)

The UK could see the hottest day of the year so far this weekend, with temperatures forecast to hit as high as 26C.

While the first May bank holiday was a total washout for much of the country, warm, dry weather experienced this week is set to continue into the weekend, according to the Met Office.

Parts of south-east England are expected to reach a maximum of 26C on Saturday, beating the current record this year of 23.4C in Santon Downham in Suffolk, with temperatures across the country substantially warmer than their seasonal averages

Motorists have been warned of lengthy delays as parts of the M25 close in both directions over the weekend while concrete beams for a new bridge are installed.

London is forecast to hit 23C to 24C daily peaks for the rest of the week, with slightly cooler temperatures of about 20C across parts of western England and Wales. The forecaster said Thursday and Friday will be sunny and dry in most of the UK, with scattered showers across northern areas and heavier rainfall in northern parts of Scotland, which is expected to move away from Thursday.

The Midlands will also see temperatures in the 20s this weekend, though not quite as high as in the south east. (Met Office)
The Midlands will also see temperatures in the 20s this weekend, though not quite as high as in the south east. (Met Office)

Conditions in Scotland and Northern Ireland are also expected to improve throughout the week, with highs of 22C in Glasgow on Saturday and other areas in the high teens.

Amy Bokota, senior operational meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “It’s already been quite warm but as we head later on through the week, I’m expecting it to slowly climb day on day.”

However, the warm and dry conditions are set to be temporary as next week will bring unsettled weather, the Met Office said, as temperatures cool and an area of low pressure from the Atlantic brings scattered showers and possible thunderstorms as early as Sunday afternoon.

Manchester will see the mercury hit 23C as weather continues to be favourable this weekend. (Met Office)
Manchester will see the mercury hit 23C as weather continues to be favourable this weekend. (Met Office)

Bokota added: “We’ll likely see temperatures back into the high teens, perhaps low twenties in a few spots, but certainly a few degrees less.”

The UK will not meet the conditions for a heatwave, when temperatures must hit between 25C and 28C, depending on the region, for three days in a row.

The warm weather is in stark contrast to the end of the bank holiday weekend when the Met Office issued yellow weather warnings for thunderstorms in some parts of the UK.

The Met Office says a heatwave is "an extended period of hot weather relative to the expected conditions of the area at that time of year, which may be accompanied by high humidity".

Heatwave thresholds in the UK. (Met Office)
Heatwave thresholds in the UK. (Met Office)

It said the UK heatwave threshold is met when a location records a period of "at least three consecutive days" with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold.

The threshold differs according to country or county, from 25C in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the south west of England to 27C on the south east coast of England and reaches 28C in London and other inland areas in the south and South East.

Yahoo breaks down what the weather will be like for each region of the UK, according to the Met Office.

  • Friday

Fine and warm with plenty of hazy sunshine. Staying largely dry and clear. Maximum temperature 24C.

  • Saturday and Sunday

Mostly dry and warm with sunny spells on Saturday. Chance of afternoon showers on Sunday, locally heavy.

  • Friday

Another dry day with plenty of sunny spells. Feeling very warm in the sunshine. Maximum temperature 22C.

  • Saturday and Sunday

Warm, sunny and settled on Saturday but a chance of heavy, thundery showers on Sunday.

  • Friday

Dry and sunny with a chance of the odd shower in the afternoon. Feeling very warm. Maximum temperature 23C.

  • Saturday and Sunday

Warm and sunny on Saturday with a chance of heavy, thundery showers on Sunday.

  • Friday

Another fine and warm day with plenty of hazy sunshine. The odd afternoon shower. Maximum temperature 21C.

  • Saturday and Sunday

Mostly dry and warm but a chance of showers on Sunday. Early mist and fog possible.

Rain is expected on Sunday. (Met Office)
Rain is expected on Sunday. (Met Office)

  • Friday

Dry and sunny with a chance of the odd shower in the afternoon. Feeling very warm. Maximum temperature 22C.

  • Saturday and Sunday

Warm and sunny on Saturday with a chance of thundery showers on Sunday.

  • Friday

Dry and bright with hazy sunshine. Maximum temperature 20C.

  • Saturday and Sunday

Mainly dray and warm on Saturday with a chance of thundery showers on Sunday.

London, UK. 6 May 2024. UK Weather – People cross the Millennium Bridge, with St Paul's Cathedral behind, in the rain on a wet early May Bank Holiday Monday. The Met Office forecast is for rain in the capital for most of the day. Credit: Stephen Chung / Alamy Live News
People cross the Millennium Bridge in London in the rain on bank holiday Monday. (Alamy)

  • Friday

Dry and bright with hazy sunshine. Very warm. Maximum temperature 22C.

  • Saturday and Sunday

Dry, sunny and warm on Saturday, chance of thundery showers on Sunday afternoon.

  • Friday

Dry with plenty of sunny spells. Feeling very warm. Maximum temperature 23C.

  • Saturday and Sunday

Warm and sunny with the odd shower on Saturday.

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