Weather trend: Some showers in the north and west at first, becoming hot in the south later on

High pressure remains influential this week, but northern and western parts will see some patchy rain at first. The weekend will then become very warm for many.

Through the middle of this week, weak weather fronts will still be affecting parts of Ireland and the northern UK. Meanwhile, high pressure keeps things dry and fine further south and east.

Temperarures are already on the warm side for the time of year, particularly to the south, where 25°C or more are likely to be reached almost every day.

High pressure is then expected to slowly shift east towards the North Sea and northern Europe, introducing a very warm southerly airstream across the UK and Ireland.

Temperatures could already reach 28 or 29°C as early as Thursday across inland parts of England and Wales and up to 24°C locally in Ireland and Scotland.

Even hotter air should reach us over the weekend, with 30 to 34°C possible in plaxes as well as warm and sometimes uncomfortably humid nights, especially in towns and cities.

A few heavy showers and thunderstorms could also develop from Sunday as the air becomes more unstable from the southwest, though details remain uncertain at this stage.

Overall though, little if any rainfall is expected through early next week away from the northwest and west.

Overall, temperatures could remain above or around the average through the end of June.

Atlantic low pressure systems could eventually become more dominant again and bring some more unsettled weather at times.