After a week of showery weather, a strong area of high pressure is forecast to bring bright and sunny conditions to much of the UK this weekend. Daytime temperatures are expected to feel pleasantly warm, though not reaching the record heat seen earlier this month.
Saturday will begin bright and fresh, with morning temperatures around 3C in rural areas and 6-9C in some larger cities. Afternoon highs in northern areas could reach 18C, while central and southern parts are expected to reach the low 20s Celsius. The day is also expected to be dry, with only isolated showers possible across the Scottish Highlands.
Sunday will bring mostly sunny weather, with light winds and a fresh start to the day. The afternoon is forecast to be warm, with high temperatures peaking in the mid-20s Celsius in locations such as Southampton, Reading, and London.
The high pressure is not expected to remain in place for long, with indications it will move east early next week. This could allow low pressure to bring showers to southern and south-western Britain as early as Monday night, potentially reaching the Channel coast from Cornwall to Kent before spreading further north into Tuesday.
More substantial rain is anticipated from midweek onwards, with western areas likely to see the most rainfall. Upland areas could typically receive 30-40mm by the end of next week, while eastern Britain may see about half of that.