UK weather forecast: High pressure airstream sweeps in as Britain to sizzle in scorching 20C heat

Met Office forecasters suggest Saturday, May 13 will be Britain's warmest day across the weekend with “plenty of sunshine for most parts and feeling warm in light winds".

This year's hottest day so far topped 21.6C (70.1F) at Helens Bay in County Down on Monday.

It follows a week of severe weather conditions including thunder, lightning, hail and even funnel clouds as flash flooding cause a major incident being declared in Somerset.

Saturday will begin largely cloudy across the country, but this will pass during the day, leaving for a mild and bright day.

A Met Office spokesperson said Friday is expected to be: "Cool and breezy across east and southeastern areas with low cloud, then some rain affecting the southeast for a time. Sunny spells across western areas where it will feel warm by afternoon."

While Saturday will see: "Low cloud becoming confined to North Sea coasts. Plenty of sunshine for most parts and feeling warm in light winds."

On Sunday there will be wet start for northern Scotland and Northern Ireland before the rain pushes into western England throughout the morning.

Next week will see more wet weather move into southern and eastern areas and hold back temperatures again.

Monday is likely be a day of scattered clouds and showers for all, some thundery in the North East.

"It's been an energetic week of weather with heavy showers and in some places a thunderstorm," Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said.

"But it all calms down a little at least for a day or two heading in this weekend as an area of high pressure starts to topple in from the North West and by Saturday morning virtually everyone is fine and settled."

Northern parts of the UK will see the most settled conditions, with the south having higher chances of low pressure.

Much of next week will see more settled weather but is expected to be a little cooler.