UK braces for weekend heatwave with temperatures potentially exceeding 30C

Parts of the UK are set to heat up from this weekend, with forecasters warning that temperatures could exceed 30C.

For some areas this will mark the third heatwave of the year.

Highs could reach 33 or 34C for parts of southern England with 30C possible as far north as South Yorkshire and Greater Manchester.

Current forecasts suggests this hot spell may not be as intense as the record-breaking heatwave in late June - however, it looks set to last longer, perhaps into the middle of the month.

Temperatures in the south of the UK will continue to rise gradually over the weekend as high pressure builds from the Azores.

It will turn warmer still from Monday with the heat expected to peak during the second half of the week across England and Wales.

Some areas are likely to meet official heatwave criteria.

The highest temperatures will be focused across southern and eastern England, where values could widely exceed 30C.

In the north-east of England and eastern Scotland the mid to high-20s are possible.

Areas on the western side of the UK - such as Lancashire, the Lake District, western Scotland and Northern Ireland - will be exposed to an Atlantic breeze which will act like a natural air conditioner limiting temperatures to the low to mid-20s.

Currently many forecasting models show that the hot spell could persist into the middle of July.

We are unlikely to exceed the record breaking temperatures recorded in June, although there is some uncertainty.