Temperatures in Britain are expected to rise even higher today after the UK enjoyed the hottest day of the year so far.
Sunbathers made the most of their new-found freedom following the easing of lockdown restrictions as London's St James's Park saw a high of 26.2C on Tuesday - beating 2020's previous top temperature of 26C (78.8F) set last month.
The sunshine is set to continue for most of the UK on Wednesday, with temperatures expected to hit 28C.
Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said: "There will be a bit of a grey, misty start for some first thing but that will quickly burn away.
"The vast majority of the UK will have a dry day with sunny spells, if not blue skies all day for some."
He predicted the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures in the 20s and highs of 28C in the London area.
There is a risk of thunderstorms on Thursday in east and south-east England as a band of rain pushes eastwards.
Temperatures are predicted to cool from 24C or 25C before the rain to a fresher 17C to 21C on Friday.
Mr Dewhurst predicted a windy start to the weekend with sunshine and showers for many with the weather gradually turning drier from the south on Sunday and into bank holiday Monday.
UK 5 day weather forecast
Today:
A fine day with plenty of very warm sunshine once any early patchy cloud clears. Most areas hotter than yesterday too. Cloudier for Shetland and Orkney though, some rain here.
Tonight:
Most areas dry with clear spells and a warm night over England. Outbreaks of rain developing over western Britain and risk of isolated thunderstorms over southern England by dawn.
Thursday:
Showers or thunderstorms possible over parts of eastern and southeastern England whilst early rain over northern and western UK clears to brighter weather. Warm in the far south and east.
Outlook for Friday to Sunday:
Rain, heavy in the north, sweeps east Friday. Cooler, showery weather follows; gales for the northwest. Fine and dry for much of England and Wales by Sunday; further rain elsewhere.
