UK heatwave: Everywhere due to bask in 31C temperatures today before warm weekend

Most areas of the UK will bask in glorious sunshine on Friday as temperaturesreach highs of 31C ahead of what promises to be a warm weekend.

Southern areas of England will experience the hottest temperatures, with parts of London, Sussex and Kent expected to reach at least 30C. Blue skies and extremely hot temperatures mean beaches on the coast will be packed, while after work BBQs, drinks in the garden and children playing outside is likely to be on the agenda for millions.

The north could be somewhat cloudy to start, and there may even be patches of rain in some areas, but the weather will turn dry and warm as the day progresses.

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"Today, much of the UK will be very warm with sunny spells," forecasters at BBC Weather say. "Cloudier in Scotland with a few patches of rain in the far north. Turning drier towards the end of the day. A humid day in the south.

"Tonight, eastern areas will turn cloudy, as thick low cloud moves in from the east. A chance of drizzle in places. Western areas will remain dry and largely clear. Turning breezy in the far south."

The Met Office says: "Friday is expected to bring a north-south split, with cloudier skies and patchy rain or drizzle in parts of the north, while the south enjoys plenty of sunshine and fine weather. Temperatures could reach 31C in southern England.

"The weekend looks largely settled, with dry and sunny conditions for most. The far southwest may see the odd shower and feel windy at times. Temperatures look to be near average in the east , but could be warm or very warm in the west, with locally hot conditions in the southwest. Top temperatures could reach 30C on Saturday and 29C on Sunday.

While London could see highs of 31C, it is a tad cooler in other areas of the country as Birmingham could see highs of 27C, Manchester 25C, Cardiff 28C and Norwich 26C. Up north it is a little more unsettled with temperatures reaching 22C in Newcastle and Edinburgh.

Temperatures will drop slightly on Saturday although some areas will see highs of 28C, with similar temperatures expected on Sunday.

"Dry, settled, and increasingly sunny as low cloud gradually burns back to the east coast. Feeling warm or hot in the sunshine later, but becoming noticeably breezier in the southwest," the Met Office's Saturday forecast reads.

Looking ahead to Sunday to Tuesday, the Met Office says: "Mostly settled and dry through the period with plenty of warm sunshine, especially in the west. Nights and mornings may be cloudier at times, more noticeably in the east."