It may finally be time to go shopping for some factor 50 sun cream, as the UK is set to sizzle at the end of next week with temperatures in some parts climbing higher than those in California.
The sun-soaking won’t arrive until heavy rain has fallen, however, with a weather warning likely to be imposed in North Wales on Monday.
High pressure will build from the middle of the week and as a result the south east of England may see temperatures soar to 32C on Friday, according to the Met Office. Los Angeles, in comparison, is set to only reach 26C.
However, most of the country will suffer a deluge over Sunday and Monday.
Two inches of rain is expected to fall over parts of North Wales on Monday, which is half a month’s worth of rainfall for the area.
Dan Stroud, the Met Office forecaster, told the PA news agency: “We are looking at the possibility of reaching the low 30s later in the week, most likely on Friday, probably in and around London, running into East Anglia and other parts of the South and East.
“We’ve got low pressure dominating at the moment, that will eventually give way to another area of heavy rain and cloud which will move up from the South and West into Monday, which will be a miserable and wet day across England and Wales.
“Beyond that, there are tentative signs of an improvement, gradually losing that showery signal during Tuesday and Wednesday, and temperatures will start to climb.
“We’ve got high pressure building from the middle of the week and that will tap into some tropical continental air, which will draw up some very warm, locally hot air that will allow temperatures to climb steadily.
“By the time we get into Friday and maybe into Saturday we stand a chance of breaking into the 30s.”
On Friday other areas of Britain will also see temperatures rocket. Most of England and Wales will surpass 25C, meanwhile Scotland and Northern Ireland could get to low-to-mid 20s.
It won’t all be plain sailing though, as thundery showers may break the sunny spells, albeit not for long.
However, sadly the Met Office experts said the warmer weather isn’t going to last.
Mr Stroud said the heat would be short-lived as low pressure will return, making next weekend more unsettled.
