UK weather: London hotter than Istanbul, as Mediterranean heatwave hits

Although storms are on the cards for next weekend

A couple enjoy the sunshine in Hyde Park (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Temperatures are set to rise to twice the April average next week, as a tropical air-mass builds up over northern Europe.

Although temperatures have dipped slightly, with Londoners today feeling the chill of a 13°C breeze, the UK will warm up significantly next week as temperatures of around 22°C creep in.

Accuweather predicts that the UK will be the same temperature as Marrakesh and 11°C hotter than Istanbul next Wednesday, as forecasters suggest the UK will be enjoying a very Mediterranean 22°C.

Parts of the UK will be as hot as Marrakesh (FADEL SENNA/AFP/Getty Images)

However, the UK forecast from the Met Office has cautioned that it will be the south and south east of the UK that will enjoy the most sunshine:

It states that it will be: “Largely fine and increasingly warm across much of southern Britain.

"Windy and more unsettled in the northwest, the threat of heavy, prolonged rainfall across western Scotland on Tuesday and Wednesday.”

The warm spell is due to a tropical air-mass from continental Europe, which will give way to a stormy Atlantic weather system by next weekend.

Relaxing in St. James's Park (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Met Office Spokeswoman, Nicky Maxey, said: “It is going to stay fine and dry for most of the week.

“Temperatures will hit 20°C with Wales and the West Midlands in for the best of the sunshine and warmth.”

However, there will be cold nights: “We could see -3°C in some spots very early in the morning so there is going to be a very big difference between overnight and daytime temperatures,” she added.

Ladbrokes has it at 10/1 that this month will be the hottest April on record, while other bookmakers are taking bets at odds below 5/1 that this summer will be the hottest on record.