UK weather: Temperatures set to rise - with some areas forecast to be as hot as Ibiza
Warmer weather is on the way with the UK finally set to enjoy a spell of sunshine - as temperatures in some parts are expected to match those in Ibiza.
After a "disappointingly cool" run of weeks - despite sweltering conditions in Europe - the Met Office forecasts "much warmer conditions" over the next fortnight.
While temperatures will likely hover at around 20C (68F) over the weekend, with highs of 24C (75F) in the south, Monday and Tuesday could be as hot as Ibiza in the southeast.
It is forecast to be 25C (77F) on the sunny Spanish island at the start of next week, matching London and surrounding areas, with the Midlands and northwest a degree or two cooler.
Summarising the outlook from 24 June up to 3 July, the Met Office said it will be "predominantly fine" and much of the UK will be "much warmer" than in recent weeks.
"At first some thicker cloud could bring some outbreaks of mostly light rain, this mainly affecting northwestern areas," it said.
"However, for most, it will be dry throughout and likely to turn increasingly warm as we move into next week."
There is "a chance this could persist for much of the rest of the period," the Met Office said, turning "increasingly hot".
Meteorologists added the country could see a return to temperatures closer to average at the end of next week, when there are a "large range of outcomes", but "the trend toward much warmer conditions continuing… is preferred".
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Sky News meteorologist Chris England said it will be quite settled and increasingly warm and humid later this weekend and for the first part of next week at least, and possibly all week, particularly in the South East.
He said it would be warmer until Wednesday next week at least.
There is a 60% chance heatwave thresholds - around 25C (77F) across most of the UK and 28C (82F) in and around London - will be exceeded in places, he said.
The chances of topping 30C (86F) are lower, at 20%, while the odds of extreme heat warnings remain unlikely, at just 5%, he added.
