Thunderstorms will lash some parts of the UK on Friday morning as the blistering weather of recent days begins to ease.
But the weekend will see the mercury tip above 20C with most regions seeing warm and bright weather and highs into the mid-20s.
The first week of June has already seen balmy weather for many areas with days of sizzling temperatures and sunny skies.
It comes after one of the wettest May months on record, with weeks of relentless rainfall throughout the month.
Speaking of today's weather, forecasters said it would be cooler than in recent days with some rainfall but there would still be plenty of sunshine.
Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern said: "Cooler and wetter on Friday in the south east but it will be fine elsewhere with still some warm sunshine.
"A warm front coming in from the continent is likely to turn things wetter as we start off Friday.
"Large areas of thunderstorms over the near continent and the remnants of these are drifting north during Friday morning."
Forecasters said there was a 'threat we will import some thunderstorms' and added there will be some 'lively weather' to begin the day, particularly in the south east.
Elsewhere it will be largely bright with more settled conditions as the day goes on.
Temperatures will stay warm again and will soar into the 20s, but it will not peak as high as the blistering temperatures of recent days.
The Met Office said the best of the weather will be in central areas on Friday with some showers seen in the south east.
Saturday will also see a bright start to the weekend for most areas with some showers in northern regions.
Temperatures will reach the mid-20s for some southerly areas as the weekend gets under way.
UK Weather Forecast
Today:
Cloudy in the east and southeast with some rain, perhaps heavy at times mainly in the far southeast. Sunny spells elsewhere, particularly Wales, west and north England. Warm in sunshine. The odd shower for Northern Ireland and west Scotland.
Tonight:
Cloudy in east and southeast England with some rain. Northern Ireland and west Scotland also cloudy with a little rain. Clear spells between and chilly for some with fog patches.
Saturday:
Fine and dry for most with sunny spells, best of these over central England. Cloudier over Northern Ireland, west and north Scotland with some rain or showers. Warm in sunshine.
Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:
Generally fine by night with some fog patches. By day most locations will be dry and fine with just a few well-scattered showers, and generally feeling warm or very warm.
