The southeast of England is set to enjoy temperatures to rival the Mediterranean.
The Met Office predicts that temperatures could reach 24C (75F) on Sunday — warmer than Rome and Ibiza.
Things will start to improve from today thanks to a southeasterly wind bringing in weather systems from the continent.
The sunshine will be welcomed after a washout bank holiday weekend in many parts of the country.
London’s average temperature for this time of year is 16C, but the weekend promises to top that by eight degrees. The warmer conditions could also bring isolated thunderstorms, however.
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Ibiza is forecast to reach 22C and Istanbul will probably hit only 20C — the same as that predicted for Manchester.
Emma Boorman, a Met Office forecaster, said that the week had got off to a good start, with temperatures a couple of degrees above those expected. “As we go into the middle and later stages of the week we start to bring in a southeasterly breeze, allowing some warmer temperatures to arrive into the UK.
“By Friday and Saturday we are looking at temperatures in the mid-twenties.” Coastal areas will be noticeably cooler, with a forecast of 17C in some west country resorts.