UK weather: Temperatures could soar up to 33C on Friday as sunshine returns

The UK is about to bask in hot sunshine as temperatures are predicted to reach as high as 33C at the end of this week.

The Met Office has forecast that temperatures will make their way past the 30C mark on Friday, as sustained sunshine replaces the recent rainy spells.

The nation’s weather hot spots will be London and parts of the South, forecasters say.

The hottest day of the year so far was on 24 June, when a temperature of 31C was recorded.

London and the South East could experience even higher temperatures on Friday, say forecasters.

Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge told Yahoo News UK: “It will get warm. We’re looking at temperatures of around 33C or so as a daily maximum and that’s looking like it will be in the South East or London.

“It will be 30C and above quite widely, from the south coast and up to Yorkshire. The warmth will extend to the Scottish border, where temperatures will be in the high 20s.

However, temperatures will drop on Saturday and the sunshine will be followed by thunderstorms into next week.

On its website, the Met Office said: "Thursday will see heavy rain at times whilst Friday will be dry with plenty of very warm sunshine. Scattered thundery showers developing overnight then sunny spells on Saturday.

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"A brief very warm spell is likely for many areas at the end of this week with a good deal of sunshine, although increasing cloud may bring rain to the northwest.

"It may become hot in southeastern areas. However, scattered showers and thunderstorms will probably introduce cooler, more changeable conditions from the west next weekend."