Weekend weather: High temperatures with scatterings of rain in Scotland

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said the mercury was likely to reach the high 20s and low 30s again, adding that despite the more comfortable temperatures in recent days “it is not the end of the hot weather for the summer”.

Temperatures could climb back up to 31C in London this weekend, with sunshine returning to most of the country.

The north of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland will enjoy temperatures in the mid-20s, with scatterings of rain.

A Met Office spokesman told the Press Association: “Essentially at the end of the week we’re looking at a bit of a north-west/south-east split in the weather.

“Northern and some western areas will often be cooler with some outbreaks of rain – particularly in Northern Ireland – and that could spread in to southern and western Scotland.”

Temperatures are likely to hit at least 32C and possibly 33C in parts of the south east on Friday, while south western parts of the UK could see 28C or 29C.

The spokesman added: “This weekend is much more promising than last weekend with plenty of sunshine around, although the north of England could see a few showers on Saturday.”

The heat is likely to continue into next week.

“Temperatures will remain pretty hot across at least the south of England but potentially more widely across the UK – we could see some wet weather coming across the north west, but still pretty hot,” the spokesman said.

Holidaymakers heading to Spain and Portugal were warned of an extreme heatwave which could see the hottest temperatures ever recorded in continental Europe.

Paddle boarders enjoy the warm weather in Poole Harbour in Dorset (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Luke Miall, a Met Office meteorologist, said the current record of 48C (118F) in Athens, Greece, in 1977 could be broken as a wave of blisteringly hot air sweeps in from Africa.

Temperatures crept into the low 40s on Wednesday and are predicted to rise and peak at the weekend, with the highs expected inland rather than in coastal areas.

He added: “These sorts of temperatures are not only exceptional for the locals but people from the UK will never really have experienced them.

“Especially with it being the school holidays, and the very young and old being susceptible to heatstroke, we’re advising tourists to keep out of the midday sun and protect themselves.

“Combined with high pressure in charge, blue skies every day, and the ground already warmed up, that leads to a day-on-day build, combining to give us these intense temperatures.”

Temperatures in south-west France could also rise to the high 30s, he added.