Parts of Britain are set for ideal beach and barbecue weather with sizzling temperatures that could rival those in sun-kissed Ibiza and the Algarve.
The UK was seeing its warmest weather of July so far as temperatures were expected to rise to 29C on Friday, and they could peak around 27-28C in parts of southern England, including London and the Home Counties, on Saturday.
The warmth will be short-lived, however. The Met Office said a cold front will slowly slink across the country from the north, bringing cloud and rain along with it, that will see temperatures about eight degrees cooler on Sunday.
Beaches and parks are likely to be busy in the warmest places on Saturday, but Britons are being reminded to follow social distancing rules and other coronavirus lockdown restrictions still in place.
Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan told Mirror Online the UK's warmest spot on Friday, as of 2pm, was Heathrow Airport, which recorded a temperature of 28.3C.
It was expected to rise to 29C.
Mr Morgan said: "Its a very warm day out there today. It may be the warmest day of the month so far.
"July has been a cool month, temperatures have been below average for most places so far."
He added: "It stays warmer in the south tomorrow, but we do have a cold front moving down from the north."
The cold front is expected to bring rain to Scotland and Northern Ireland on Saturday, as well as parts of Wales and northern and central England, during the day.
London and the Home Counties will see a maximum temperature of about 27C as it remains dry and warm.
But the cold front will move further south later on Saturday and the rain will be more widespread.
Mr Morgan said it will be a "disappointing day" on Sunday with cloud and outbreaks of rain in afternoon in East Anglia and South East England.
Temperatures will be several degrees cooler than Saturday.
The conditions will be cool and breezy in the north, where it will feel warm - from the mid teens to low 20s - in any sunny spells.
Wales and northern parts of England will have better weather on Sunday than Saturday, with some sunshine.
UV levels will remain high across most of the UK at the weekend.
Next week will get off to a dry start in England and Wales with plenty of sunshine, and it will be "pleasantly warm" with temperatures around or just below average, said Mr Morgan.
There will be a few showers further north across Scotland and Northern Ireland, he added.
UK five-day weather forecast
Friday
A band of rain moving southeastwards from Scotland and Northern Ireland into northern England.
Brighter weather following.
Dry across the rest of England and Wales, low cloud clearing to allow warm sunshine for many, very warm in the southeast.
Friday night
Rain at times for central parts of the UK.
Clearer and cooler in the north.
Dry and warm in the south.
Saturday
Rain affecting parts of Wales, northern and central England.
Warm sunshine across the south and east again.
Cooler across Scotland and Northern Ireland with sunny spells and a few showers.
Sunday to Tuesday
Cloud and outbreaks of rain clearing from the south on Sunday then becoming dry with sunny spells thereafter.
Sunshine and scattered showers in the north and feeling rather cool.
