Brits will be soaking up the sunshine this bank holiday weekend, but many will still need their brollies at the ready with a mix of mini heatwaves and thunderstorms on the cards.
Warmer temperatures sweeping in from the Atlantic will bring highs of 20C for some parts of England.
The Met Office expected the long period of cloud and drizzle to be replaced by bright spells and pleasant sunshine for much of the country from Friday evening.
Forecasters said conditions will feel more humid overall with moisture from the Atlantic sparking some heavy showers in places.
But with high pressure broadly in charge of this weekend's weather, it certainly isn't going to be a washout.
Meteorologist Alex Deakin said: "It's a bank holiday weekend and it is going to get warmer, but it's been such a cold week, that wouldn't be too hard.
"There will be some heavy showers around but still plenty of dry and bright weather to be had as well.
"Wafting up from the south is warmer air, so temperatures are going to be on the rise over the next few days.
"We are not tapping into the heat across Spain and Portugal, what's happening here is a big area of low pressure out in the Atlantic is wafting in south-westerly winds.
"So that's why it's turning warmer but swings off the Atlantic bring moisture."
London
Londoners will be basking in 19C sunshine from Friday afternoon when the mercury is set to rise once again. The cloud and drizzle is expected to clear throughout the day, bringing glorious sunshine in the afternoon.
Saturday will kickstart the bank holiday weekend with sunshine and highs of 20C. But this will be dampened by afternoon showers and possible heavy downpours.
The cloud and wet weather will carry on into Sunday with more showers and possible thunder amid highs of 17C. But the sun is set to return once more on bank holiday Monday, bringing a bright and sunny end to the long weekend.
South East
The cloud and rain will lift throughout Friday morning with the sun breaking through the clouds by the afternoon, with blissful highs of 19C.
Saturday will stay bright and sunny with highs of 20C followed by scattered showers in the afternoon. Sunday will remain mostly cloudy with the risk of showers and thunderstorms which will continue into Monday with mild winds.
South West
The South West will see a murky start to the bank holiday weekend, brightening up by the afternoon and generally feeling much warmer.
The western coasts will see cooler temperatures with highs of a summery 18C overall.
Saturday will see patchy clouds with cloud thickening from the southwest with showers and highs of 17C.
Wet conditions will continue into Sunday followed by dry and brighter weather on Monday.
East Midlands
Dull and cloudy weather is forecast for Friday morning with outbreaks of rain and drizzle which will lift throughout the day, making way for afternoon sunshine and highs of a warm 14C.
Sunny spells with cloud patches will kickstart the weekend followed by heavy rain. But despite the damp weather, the mercury is set to continue rising to a blissful 17C.
The clouds will continue into Sunday and Monday with possible showers and storms.
West Midlands
After a damp start, Friday will become largely dry with sunshine and the odd shower throughout the afternoon which will feel much warmer than recent weeks with highs of 17C.
Saturday's dry and clear spells will make for a delightful morning with highs of 18C followed by some showers and possible heavy rain into the afternoon and evening.
Sunday will be largely cloudy with some showers while Monday will be dry and bright.
North East
After a drizzly start on Friday, the cloud will lift through the morning with the sun breaking through in the afternoon with brighter spells and highs of 13C.
Saturday will see a similar start with unwelcome rain and drizzle with a fresh light breeze and highs of 13C.
The clouds will carry over into Sunday with the risk of showers and possible thunder. But the sunshine is expected to return on Monday.
North West
Similarly to the rest of the country, the North West will see grey and wet conditions clear by Friday afternoon to make way for the bank holiday weekend.
The mercury is set to rise to a charming 15C turning breezier in the warm afternoon.
Overnight fog patches will quickly clear on Saturday morning, leading to an overall cloudy but mostly dry day with some clear spells and temperatures sticking at 15C.
Sunday comes with the risk of showers followed by a bright and sunny Monday.
Wales
In the north and east, rain and drizzle is set to clear slowly across Shetland and remain cloudy. The sun is expected to break through the clouds bringing blissful sunshine elsewhere in Wales.
Saturday is forecast to bring light rain in the northeast with bright and sunny spells elsewhere across the region.
While Sunday is expected to bring warmer weather with scattered heavy showers and thunderstorms.
These will become confined to eastern parts on Monday which will turn mostly dry and sunny.
