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Today is set to be hottest day of the year so far with high temperatures set to soar as high as 25C in the south by this afternoon.
The Met Office predicts highs of 25C today in London, with forecasters predicting the mercury could reach 27C in the south over the weekend.
The south of England will see highs of 25C (77F) today, with temperatures potentially reaching 26C (78.8F) on Saturday and up to 27C (80.6F) on Sunday, according to the Met Office.
Brits flocked to the seaside yesterday to bask in 23C heat, with sunseekers packing out beaches across the coast.
But the good weather isn't set to last, with Met Office forecasters warning thunder is on the way next week, with rain and 'heavy and thundery' showers set to sweep the country.
SWANAGE: Brits are seen sunbathing today in Dorset as the UK experiences sunny weather
BOURNEMOUTH: People enjoy the hot weather and bright sunshine on the beach in Dorset
BOURNEMOUTH: Dorset locals are seen playing in the sea today as temperatures surge
BOURNEMOUTH: Corin Jones and her sons Beauden, five (left) and Sully, two (right), look for shells along the beach today as the UK experiences sunny the start of a sunny spell
NORTHUMBERLAND: Walkers by Bamburgh Castle take advantage of the weather for a walk
SWANAGE: Locals bask in the sunshine by beach huts in Dorset today
There is a 'good chance' of seeing the Northern Lights in the north of the UK and potentially further south as clear skies are forecasted
LONDON: Today is set to be hottest day of the year so far with 25C heat hitting London - so joggers hit the park early in south east London this morning
SWANAGE: Locals sit by the sea in Dorset to look at the boats this morning in the sun
The Met Office has issued two Yellow weather warnings for thunderstorms across western and central England and Wales on Sunday between 12pm and 9pm.
There is a 'good chance' of seeing the Aurora in the north of the UK and potentially further south as clear skies are forecasted.
But the Met Office warned that the duration of sightings will be 'limited' as nights are shorter.
Deputy Chief Meteorologist Tony Wisson said: 'Many places will start fine and warm on Sunday, though it is likely to become cloudier from the west or southwest during the day.
'This will be accompanied by scattered showers, which could be heavy with thunder.
'On Monday we're likely to see more widespread and longer-lived spells of rain, some of which will be heavy and thundery.
'This will also lead to a much cooler feel to the day.'
The warm weather brings an increase in UV levels.
Weather conditions are expected to return to a more unsettled pattern heading into next week.
Deputy Chief Meteorologist Dan Harris said: 'Heavy showers and thunderstorms are likely to break out on Sunday morning, most likely across southwest England and Wales, but possibly also across western Northern Ireland too.
'They'll track steadily north through the afternoon whilst probably growing into larger clumps of rain before clearing Scotland overnight.
SUSSEX: A couple hold hands as they go for a walk in the sun today in the town of Rye
SWANAGE: People are pictured enjoying the sunshine along the seafront in Dorset today
SWANAGE: Boats out in the bay in the sunshine today as the sun comes out in Dorset
TYNESIDE: Paddleboarders smile as they enjoy a dip in the North Sea at Longsands Beach
SWANAGE: Sunseekers lounge on the beach in Dorset today as the UK is set for sun
The forecaster said there will be highs of 25C today, as seen in the map above
The temperatures could reach 26C in the south over the weekend, The Met Office said
The Met Office has issued a Yellow weather warning for thunderstorms across western and central England and Wales on Sunday between 12pm and 10pm
'Some intense downpours are possible in a few places, giving up to 30mm in less than hour and perhaps 40-50mm over two to three hours. Hail, frequent lightning strikes and strong wind gusts will be additional localised hazards.'
Rain and showers will start to move in from the west, due to a developing low pressure system from the Atlantic.
If temperatures do reach highs of 27C on Saturday, this will make it the warmest day of the year so far.
The hottest day yet was recorded on April 12, with 21.5C measured in central London.
April 2024 was warmer than any previous April in records dating back to 1940, according to Copernicus, the EU's Climate Change Service.
Pushing up the air temperatures worldwide was both record levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the weather phenomenon known as El Niño.
SUSSEX: Locals enjoy the sunny weather in the town of Rye, East Sussex today
SWANAGE: Blue skies and calm seas at Swanage Bay in Dorset this morning
NEWQUAY: People surfing during spring sunshine at Fistral Beach yesterday
SWANAGE: Today is set to be hottest day of the year so far, with sunny scenes this morning
Global temperatures typically increase during an El Niño episode, as warmer water spreads further, and stays closer to the surface, releasing more heat into the atmosphere, creating wetter and warmer air.
Surface air temperature for the month was 15.03°C - 0.67°C above the 1991-2020 average for April, and 0.14°C above the previous high set in April 2016.
Last year, temperatures reached 33.5C on September 10 in Kent on the hottest day.
