South-east England is expected to experience temperatures as high as 27C by the weekend, with Thursday and Sunday looking particularly warm in the south. This follows a rise in temperatures across central Europe, with warm air being transported to the UK on south or south-westerly winds.
Higher pressure is forecast to keep conditions largely dry and bright across the southern half of England and Wales, where drought conditions and hosepipe bans remain in place. Conversely, low pressure systems are set to bring rain, primarily focused towards the north-west.
Western Scotland could see over 80mm of rain over the next five days, with heavier rain also possible in north-west England and north Wales. This follows a recent period where Sheffield recorded 81mm of rain in a week, exceeding its total for the rest of the summer. However, the rain in southern England and Wales is expected to be more sporadic, with only 5 to 10mm falling in total, which is unlikely to alleviate drought conditions.