The UK is expected to enjoy an unseasonable heatwave over the weekend, before what could be the hottest early May bank holiday on record.
In London and the southeast of England temperatures could soar to 27C on Monday, beating the current record of 23.6C in 1999.
Sophie Yeomans, a Met Office forecaster, told The Independent this early May bank holiday could be the warmest since the it was introduced in 1978.
It will be a little cooler in southwest England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, where temperatures of between 18C and 22C are expected in most places.
Temperatures will rise gradually through the weekend with a high of 23C on Saturday and reaching the mid-20s on Sunday, bringing warm and sunny spells to the majority of the country.
In Northern Ireland and Scotland, a weak weather front could bring some clouds and drizzle.
But eastern Scotland could see some breaks in the clouds and a few brighter spells with warmer temperatures.
Seasonal temperatures and a few clouds will however return next week .
Ms Yeomans said: "The clouds could bring the odd rumbling of thunder and there will be a gradual decline of temperatures to 13C or 14C".
