Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts because we’re in for more storms next week

Glorious sunshine will stay for five consecutive days, the Met Office forecasts (Picture: PA)

The UK is set to bask in a ‘mini-heatwave’ this week, with temperatures rising to a high of 26C in parts of England this weekend.

Glorious sunshine will stay for five consecutive days, the Met Office forecasts, peaking on Saturday with what could turn out to be the hottest day of the year so far.

Senior operational meteorologist Amy Bokota 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.’

So get out and enjoy it while it lasts because next week is expected to be another washout with yet another miserable thunderstorm.

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.

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.

Make the most of the heat while it lasts because we’re expecting stormy conditions again next week (Picture: Dinendra Haria/LNP)

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.

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.

Ms Bokota said: ‘For the UK as a whole, for the early part of May, the average daytime temperature is around 16C, so it’s quite a bit above average.’

The Met Office said the sunny weather will bring ‘moderate to high’ UV levels which could cause sunburn even where it is cloudy, and recommended people use sunscreen and wear suitable clothing, including hats and sunglasses.

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.

‘We’ll likely see temperatures back into the high teens, perhaps low twenties in a few spots, but certainly a few degrees less,’ Ms Bokota said.

From Monday, rain is forecast to return with thunderstorms likely.

Despiet staying fairly warm at 20C it is expected to drop through the week.

By Thursday, the temperature is forecast to dip to 17C.

‘Rain and showers will start to move in from the west, due to a developing low from the Atlantic,’ the Met Office added.

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