UK weather forecast: Britain set for hottest day as temperatures to top 30C this weekend

Thunder and showers expected to replace sunshine on Monday

Britain will bask in its hottest day of the year so far this weekend with temperatures likely to top 30C in some areas, forecasters say.

The barbecue-friendly start to June will see the country enjoy warmer weather than holiday hot spots such as Ibiza and St Tropez, according to the Met Office.

The mercury will rise highest in the south and east where temperatures of 28C are “pretty much nailed on for Saturday”, according to forecaster Simon Partridge.

But the good weather will be shortlived, he warned. Thunderstorms and rain showers will bring Sunday to a close and herald a cooler, fresher outlook once more next week.

“So far, 19 April holds the record for the hottest day, when temperatures reached 25.8C in Cornwall, but there’s a very good chance that will be beaten this weekend,” Mr Partridge told The Independent. “With humidity taken into account, we could easily be looking at 30C in some corners of the south and east.”

The fine weather comes on the back of warm southerly air coming in from the continent, he added. And, while some rain, wind and fog will persist in the north of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, most areas will see some blue skies and bright weather at some point on Saturday.

“It won’t be wall-to-wall sunshine for everyone unfortunately,” said Mr Partridge. “But most of us will enjoy patches of sunshine at some point. The humidity will make the nights mild too, with it staying around 14C in the south and central areas.

“But it won’t last too long. Fresher conditions will become established from Sunday evening with scattered showers moving in from the west from Sunday afternoon.”

According to the Met Office website, Barcelona and Ibiza will see highs of 24C on Sunday, while St Tropez is expected to reach 28C.