THIS is the exact date the UK will bask in 26C sunshine as summer finally returns – after thunderstorms strike first.
Next week will be the hottest of the year so far, with the mercury soaring to 26C in London on Tuesday.
Swimmers welcome the Summer Solstice in Tynemouth this morningNNP
AlamyA sunrise yoga class in the grounds of Hadleigh Castle in Essex[/caption]
Terry HarrisA group of 4am swimmers at the City Lido in Peterborough[/caption]
x.com/@metofficeThe UK will bask in summer sunshine next week[/caption]
x.com/@metofficeTemperatures will hover around the mid-20s[/caption]
Glastonbury kicks off the following day, when it is expected to be dry, settled and “increasingly hot”.
Posting on TikTok, a Met Office forecaster said: “For the first time this June, it might actually feel like June.
“When the sun’s out this week, temperatures will be in the low or in some places even mid-20s.
“And yes, there are some early signs that it might get warmer still through the weekend into the early part of next week.
“Glastonbury is further ahead but these charts suggest drier and warmer weather is at this stage more likely.”
But Brits will have to endure storms on Friday before glorious sunshine arrives over the weekend.
Outbreaks of showery rain will soak much of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and the west of England.
Elsewhere will be largely dry with spells of very warm sunshine, forecasters said.
Today will be mostly dry with some warm spells of sunshine in the south and east of England.
But clouds will bring patchy rain to parts of the north, particularly western Scotland.
The cloud will blanket much of Scotland overnight, with fog settling in the early hours.
This weekend’s Met Office forecast
Today
Most areas will have a dry day with some warm spells of sunshine, the most prolonged sunshine developing across the south and east of England.
However, cloudier skies will affect some northern areas giving patchy rain, especially across western Scotland.
Tonight
The far north and northwest of the UK will be cloudy with some rain at times.
Elsewhere it will remain dry with clear periods. A few fog patches forming later.
Friday
Outbreaks of showery rain will develop across Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and the west of England.
Elsewhere it will stay largely dry with spells of sunshine. Very warm in places.
Saturday to Monday
Bright or sunny spells and a few showers on Saturday.
High pressure building to bring a lot of dry weather during Sunday and Monday. Becoming more widely very warm.