Britons could finally be set for a taste of summer this weekend as temperatures climb towards 25C after another week of unsettled weather.
Forecasters say the mercury could reach the mid-twenties across parts of the South East by Saturday, bringing the warmest conditions many areas have experienced since spring sunshine gave way to a cooler and wetter start to June.
The prospect of brighter skies will come as welcome relief for millions after days of rain, showers and blustery conditions. It also follows the Met Office’s warning that the chances of a hotter-than-average summer are higher than normal this year, raising the prospect of heatwaves later in the season.
While no heatwave is currently forecast, meteorologists say a noticeable change is on the horizon.
Craig Snell, a forecaster at the Met Office, said temperatures could reach 24C or even 25C in London by the weekend.
“There are hints as we go into the weekend we may well see a slight warming up,” he said.
“It’s hinting at 24C for London on Saturday, at least into the low 20s, maybe mid-20s across the South East.”
Before then, however, Britons will need to keep umbrellas close at hand.
A band of rain is expected to sweep eastwards across the country on Monday, followed by a mixture of sunshine and scattered showers through Tuesday and Wednesday. Another spell of rain is forecast to arrive on Thursday, with Friday bringing further sunshine-and-shower conditions.
The improvement is expected to arrive as higher pressure gradually builds across southern Britain.
Forecasters believe the South East will benefit first, while northern parts of the country may have to wait longer for more settled weather to become established.
Even so, temperatures are expected to rise across much of the UK.
Throughout the working week, highs are likely to remain around 17C and 18C in southern regions and between 15C and 16C further north.
By the weekend, much of southern England should be enjoying temperatures comfortably above 20C, with some areas approaching the mid-twenties.
Manchester is forecast to see highs of around 20C on Saturday beneath largely cloudy skies.
Mr Snell said that after a week featuring some notably cool spells, even temperatures in the mid-twenties would feel significantly warmer.
The warmer outlook comes after an extraordinary spring in which England and Wales recorded their warmest season on record.
The UK also registered its highest May temperature since records began, prompting speculation that 2026 could become another landmark year for extreme weather.
In its three-month summer outlook, the Met Office said the likelihood of a hotter-than-average summer was elevated compared with historical norms.
While that does not guarantee prolonged hot weather, it does increase the chances of heatwaves developing later in the summer months.
For now, however, many Britons will simply be pleased to swap raincoats for sunglasses as the first genuine taste of summer edges closer.
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