UK weather forecast: Britain to enjoy hot weekend as temperatures in high 20s return

Warm weather to be followed by patchy rain and clouds next week

Britain is set to bask in sunshine as temperatures in the high 20s return over the weekend, according to the Met Office.

The mercury was expected to rise to 28C in London on Friday, with similar conditions expected to continue over the weekend.

Forecasters predict London and south east England will get the best of the weather, with some patchy rain and cloud expected in northern parts of the UK.

It comes after Britain recorded its hottest day of the year last Saturday as temperatures rose to 34C in Heathrow and west London.

The heatwave was brought on by an “enormous” bubble of warm air from the Sahara which spread across Europe.

Highs of 28C in London, 24C in Plymouth, 21C in Manchester and 20C in Glasgow were expected on Friday, according to the Met Office.

Temperatures will remain in the mid-to-high 20s in London and the south over the weekend, but will fall to the high teens in northern areas and Scotland by Sunday.

The average maximum temperature for this time of year is 21C.

As the weekend comes to a close, an active jetstream will bring more unsettled conditions across the country.

Temperatures across the country are expected to drop to the high teens by the middle of next week.

There is a chance of heavy rain on Tuesday and Wednesday across Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Grahame Madge, a spokesperson for the Met Office, said: “With high pressure in charge, much of the UK will see very fine conditions over the weekend.

"Temperatures will drop slightly after Friday, but they’ll still be in the mid twenties in southern England and the low twenties in northern areas.

"But we can expect more unsettled weather by the middle of next week due to a more active jetstream.

"There is also a chance of some heavy rain in Scotland and Northern Ireland.”