Brits enjoying the Platinum Jubilee celebrations could see one of the hottest days of the year so far with highs of 25C today.
There is also a likelihood of rain of rain, though, for much of the country on Friday and over the weekend, the Met Office has said.
After heavy rain and colder temperatures for the start of the week, the mercury has been rising and for the start of the long bank holiday on Thursday there was plenty of sunshine around.
It has also been a mild night going into Friday with some isolated showers in southern Scotland and the far north of England.
And during the day the mercury could hit 25C in the south as well as 20C in the far north of Scotland in one of the warmest days of the year so far.
The hottest day was 27.5C that was recorded at Heathrow airport on May 17.
Met Office forecaster Annie Shuttleworth said that there is set to be plenty of sunshine but also showers and thunderstorms.
“It has been a rather fine start to the bank holiday weekend and there will be plenty more of that weather to come but there is also going to be some rain to contend with for most of us over the coming days,” she said.
“Across the far north of Scotland turning drier than it has been through the day but we will see some low cloud pushing in across the Aberdeenshire coast. So on Friday morning a little bit misty and murky here but turning into quite a fine morning.
"Across the south as well plenty of fine and dry weather and across the north west of England, southern Scotland, turning a bit drier but relatively cloudy especially compared to Thursday.
"The warmest temperatures will be reserved for the south coast with the most sheltered areas we will see highs of 24C and 25C.
"Across the eastern coast it will be a cooler day with a north easterly breeze and that north easterly breeze will drag some low cloud into Friday evening so turning cloudier for many eastern areas.”
For Saturday, Scotland is expected to have the best of the weather and in the south of England there is a good chance of showers.
The rain expected to spread north through the day “bringing a risk of thunderstorms on Saturday afternoon and evening in southern and central areas."
UK forecast for the next 5 days
Scattered thundery showers central and western areas. Some sunshine.
Today:
Rain across Northern Ireland, southern Scotland, northern England and Wales easing to be replaced by heavy showers across central and western parts. Sunshine between, best in the northwest and southeast. Cool and cloudy near some North Sea coasts otherwise warm.
Tonight:
Showers, perhaps heavy, continuing across the southwest and perhaps extending to other southern counties by morning. Elsewhere becoming dry with clear spells although remaining cloudy near North Sea coasts.
Saturday:
Further thundery showers likely to affect parts of the south. Elsewhere sunny spells and becoming rather warm away from eastern coasts which will remain cool and rather cloudy at times.
Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:
Showers, sometimes heavy in the south, spreading north across England and Wales Sunday. Fine with sunny periods elsewhere; warm in northwest Scotland in particular. Showers with sunny spells next week.
