UK weather: Amazing map shows North African plume sweep across Britain bringing stunning 25C temperatures in heatwave
SCORCHING North African weather will sweep across Britain this weekend, as an amazing map shows where will be hit by stunning sunny spells.
Hot, dry air from the African continent will blow north in the next few days turning temperatures up across the UK.
The heat from the tropical continental air mass will make it feel like summer this weekend with highs of 25C.
However, these sweltering temperatures do mean there's also a risk of thunderstorms as heat builds up.
Today will see 20C sunshine in the south before the mercury rises a couple of degrees tomorrow.
Sunny spells will keep the UK mostly dry, but Northern Ireland and much of Scotland will be slightly breezier and cloudier.
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Friday and Saturday are set for stunning sunshine with just a few showers in the far north, but the south has been warned of rain on Sunday and Monday.
Brits can continue enjoying the recent mini-heatwave this weekend as the tropical temperatures are expected to drive crowds to the sea.
Beaches have been packed for the last few weeks and Brighton is forecast for 20C weather all weekend.
If the heat gets a little higher, the UK might even break its own record for the hottest day of the year so far.
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Previously, May 6 recorded a scorching 23.6C in Favesham, Kent.
In fact, this month could be the hottest May in 100 years as sweltering weather is expected to reach our coasts..
The current record is 27.8C which was recorded in Camden, North London on May 16, 1925.
Stephen Dixon, a spokesperson for the Met Office, said: "Through the weekend, warmer air is being drawn in from the continent over southern areas of the UK, and especially in the southeast.
“While this will be responsible for some fine and dry weather on Saturday, it also brings with it the risk of some thundery showers on Saturday night and into Sunday morning in southern areas.
"Friday in the South will be a largely dry and fine day, admittedly with some breeze around and some early cloud in Western areas.
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"Further north, including northern England and north Wales, there’s a chance of some showers as a low pressure system glances across the north of Scotland which will bring some more persistent rain.
"Temperatures on Friday are possibly getting to an isolated 23 degrees in the South East, but widely high teens elsewhere and low 20s.
"The highest temperature we’ve seen of the year so far is 23.6 degrees, so there’s a remote chance of that possibly being hit on Friday.
"As we move into Saturday there is some early patchy cloud in the west but largely a dry and fine day with temperatures increasing on Saturday for most, especially in the South East.
"Further north of Saturday and in the far north of Scotland, some lighter showers around on Saturday but gradually clearing as the day goes on.
"However, late on Saturday night and into Sunday morning over night as some warm air is drawn up from the continent there’s a chance of some heavier showers and some thunderstorm activity overnight.
"Early on Sunday that moves to the North East and behind it there’s some warm air coming in behind that but again temperatures could reach up to 25 degrees in the South East after that but it is largely dependent on how the cloud and rain develops over that Sunday and how things will go from there.
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"As we look ahead to next week - obviously with some uncertainties as we’re looking that far out - but it’s looking like some early rain on monday in western areas and possibly an unsettled week to come albeit with temperatures above average.
"On Saturday we should be seeing highs of up to 23 degrees in the South East, on Sunday again we could be seeing some isolated 24 degree."
