Greater Manchester is bracing itself for a baking weekend - though the sunshine is likely to be pierced by bouts of heavy rain and even thunder.
In what has been described by forecasters as a 'split' weekend picture, temperatures are again set to soar up to the mid to high twenties today (Friday) and mid-twenties tomorrow (Saturday) with it remaining above 20 degrees Celsius on Sunday. It is expected to hit up to 30C in some parts of the UK today, the Met Office have said.
However, the Met Office say the increase in temperatures will also bring with it an increased chance of thundery rain downpours with people being advised to keep their raincoat and brolly handy at all times.
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A plume of warm air will start drifting across the UK today and will bring with it a completely dry day for us.
Temperatures are expected to cross the 20C mark by mid-morning and with sunny spells only likely to be interrupted by the odd bit of cloud they will steadily climb throughout the day.
In Greater Manchester, it is expected to reach 25C by 2pm and 27C by 5pm across the region when many people will be finishing work for the weekend, meaning beer gardens are likely to be packed out.
The mercury could touch 30C in parts of the UK today and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Met Office have issued heat health alerts London, the South East, the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England and Yorkshire and the Humber, which come into effect at 12 noon today and last until 9am on Sunday.
However, one has not been issued for the North West. Here will remain over 20C throughout the night and early hours of Saturday meaning it could be a hot and uncomfortable one for many.
Tommorow it is a much more unsettled picture. There is a chance of rain from around 9am with forecasters saying heavy downpours are very likely on and off from around 11am to 2pm.
However temperatures will reach 24C by early morning and however around this mark until early evening, There could also be further bouts of rain throughout the afternoon and evening, interjercted by sunny and cloudy spells.
Temperatures will drop below 20C in the early evening and to around 15C overnight and into the early hours of Sunday morning.
It will be a slightly cooler day on Sunday but still warm with a maximum temperature of 21C. There is again the chance of some downpours between 4pm and 7pm and it will be a much cooler night with temperatures dropping to 14C in the early hours of Monday morning.
Monday could also be a wet day with some sunny spells, with temperatures not exceeding 20C and only reaching 19C on Tuesday, which could again see some showers throughout the day.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Dan Harris said: "Temperatures will be on the rise from Friday, as a plume of very warm air drifts across the UK from the south.
"Parts of east and southeast England may reach 29 or 30C on Friday, with mid-twenties more widely across England and Wales.
"By Saturday, this heat will have extended further north, with parts of Scotland also reaching the mid to high twenties, and again around 30C or perhaps even a touch higher for inland parts of eastern England.
"In addition, temperatures overnight will remain high, especially in towns and cities, which will make for an uncomfortably warm night for some.”
Adding: "Despite the warm start to the weekend weather for most, we expect a steady transition back to cooler and more unsettled weather with the development of some intense thundery downpours.
"Whilst we have high confidence in the general trends, there remains sufficient uncertainty to preclude us from being able to pin down the most likely locations of the most intense and potentially impactful thunderstorms.
“The main message at the moment is to be aware of the potential for heavy downpours with lightning, hail and gusty winds, so keep in touch with the latest forecasts.
"Warnings may be issued in due course, should confidence increase. However, the vast majority of places will avoid the worst conditions.”
