Today might be the hottest day of the year so far.

Temperatures could reach a balmy 26C (79F) in western parts of the UK, which would top the 2023 high point of 25.1C (77F) seen in Porthmadog on Tuesday.

Wales could again be where the record is broken, the Met Office said, or southwest England.

Meteorologist Rachel Ayers added: “We’d be looking at that somewhere in the west, probably similar kind of areas, parts of Wales, maybe southwest England.”

She said a breeze in the south, particularly English Channel coasts, will affect temperatures in those areas.

Eastern coasts will see temperatures on Sunday of around 15C (59F) or 16C (61F), while inland areas will be warmer, with highs of 18C (64F) to 20C (68F).

It comes after a UK high of 23.9C (75F) on Saturday, again in Porthmadog.

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The week ahead

Beyond Sunday, the warm and dry conditions are expected to continue into the week – but don’t call it a heatwave.

Stephen Dixon, spokesman for the Met Office, said: “As we move towards next weekend there’s a signal for temperatures possibly getting towards the mid-20s. It’s not anything we’d call a heatwave, but there’s some signals for later next week and into next weekend for higher temperatures, particularly in the south.”

The high pressure behind the warmer weather will be in place for the “foreseeable future”, Mr Dixon added.

Any rain will be extremely isolated.

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Mr Dixon said: “There’s a chance of some lighter showers for parts of Northern Ireland and perhaps Scotland for Tuesday and Wednesday, they will be very isolated.

“As we move into next weekend, although the temperature is looking to increase in the south, that does increase the chance of some isolated showers popping up.

“It is western areas that are looking likely to have the longer sunny periods, parts of Wales as well as the southwest of England, but for the vast majority it will be feeling very pleasant with sunshine.

“It will be slightly warmer than average, but not beyond what we’d normally see.”

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