Temperatures could hit highs of 26C this weekend, with Saturday in with a chance to be the hottest day of the year so far.

Forecasters say temperatures will build over the coming days before coming to a head over the weekend, with mostly clear conditions expected across England and Wales.

By Saturday, the Met Office indicates the south of England could see highs of up to 26C. So far, the hottest temperature recorded this year was in Santon Downham in Suffolk, which saw 23.4C last Thursday.

The forecaster said high pressure will push north throughout the week and bring more warmer and drier conditions after the bank holiday weekend washout.

Met Office meteorologist Amy Bokota said: “High pressure is forecast to dominate the UK for the rest of the week and into the weekend.

“High pressure brings dry and settled weather and with warm air sat over the UK this will give some pleasant warm temperatures. There is good confidence that high pressure will last until the weekend.

“Temperatures are expecting to build over the next few days, with a likely peak of Saturday.”

See the latest weather forecast where you are

Scotland and Northern Ireland are also set to enjoy warmer springtime weather, with 22C also forecast on Saturday in Glasgow.

Northern parts of the UK will still see cloudy skies, and patches of moving high pressure are “likely to cause periods of prolonged rainfall” in parts of Northern Ireland and the north of Scotland, Met Office spokesperson Grahame Madge said.

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The sunnier skies aren’t set to last long, however. In their long range outlook to 21 May, the Met Office said that Sunday will “likely be the last widely dry and fine day for a while, with warm sunshine for most”.

It added: “After Sunday, the weather is expected to switch back to become changeable across the country, with further spells of rain and showers expected.

“Rainfall amounts could be above average in most areas. It is also possible that rain will be heavy at times, and any showers could turn thundery. Temperatures are also expected to fall closer to average for May.”

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