The UK is set to experience the hottest day of the year so far on Friday, with temperatures soaring into the mid-30s, the Met Office has said.
Parts of the country will be warmer than popular tourist destinations in Europe, including Berlin, Lisbon and Ibiza, where temperatures will reach 25C, 30C and 33C respectively.
The weather will be hottest in southeastern areas of the UK and will peak at 35C in Greater London.
The mercury will also rise above 30C in Manchester and parts of Wales.
However, it will be slightly cooler in some western areas of the UK because of cloud cover, according to Alex Deakin, a meteorologist at the Met Office.
In places where conditions are warmer, Mr Deakin said there is a chance of thunderstorms forming later in the day.
"Across the Midlands, eastern and southern England, that's where we have the risk that the heat and humidity could trigger some big, big thunderstorms," Mr Deakin said.
"But for most places, it's all about the heat really," he added.
A cold front swinging in from the west will bring a significant drop in temperatures on Saturday, when London and Manchester will have highs of 26C and 21C respectively.
The good weather on Friday comes at the end of a July which has had above average rain and below average temperatures and sunshine.
So far this month, the maximum temperature has been 28.5C, which was recorded at Heathrow Airport on 17 July.
"We've not seen a temperature anywhere above 30 so far or even with a three in it, that is quite unusual for July," a Met Office spokesman said.
"In terms of shifting the overall weather stats for the month, it's not going to do much to the average."
Additional reporting from PA
