UK weather

Headline:

Turning hotter once again.

Today:

Dry with sunny spells across England and Wales, though a few showers may reach the far southwest later. Cloudier in Scotland and Northern Ireland with outbreaks of rain, heavy at times in the west. Windy in the north.

Tonight:

Rain across Scotland and Northern Ireland will spread slowly south, perhaps reaching northern England later. Elsewhere, mostly dry with variable cloud and isolated southwest showers. A warm night for many.

Sunday:

Rain in the north will drift southeastwards with some heavy spells. Elsewhere, sunny or clear spells and mostly dry, though isolated showers possible in the southeast. Feeling hot once again.

Outlook for Monday to Wednesday:

The next few days see high pressure in charge across all areas. Sunny spells for all with temperatures climbing day on day. Peaking on Wednesday into the mid 30s.

A mixed start is likely to this period, with some rain or showers in the north and quite breezy conditions while in the south it will be mostly dry, sunny and hot, even very hot in some places. Southern parts are likely to turn cooler and fresher next weekend though. Further into August, areas of low pressure may start to track further south and east. This means there is a greater chance of frontal systems or thundery interludes affecting southern and eastern areas in comparison to recent weeks, though rainfall amounts could be quite variable with some areas still seeing relatively little. Temperatures are likely to remain above average, especially in the south, where it may be very warm or hot at times.

The broad theme of high pressure remaining in place at least close to the UK seems most probable, but with occasional more unsettled or changeable interludes likely, either resulting from Atlantic frontal systems moving east or thundery plumes possibly drifting north from the continent. This means that rainfall amounts overall are more likely to be below normal than above. Temperatures will probably be above average and some spells of hot weather and heatwaves are possible, especially in the south.