UK weather latest: Sunshine to replace rain as temperatures soar into 20s

Temperatures are expected to increase across the UK over the next week as spring showers give way to some long-awaited sunshine.

Parts of the country could bask in highs of up to 22C (71.6F) with murky clouds and fog driven away, forecasters at the Met Office say.

However, most of the good weather will not arrive until after the weekend.

And the Met Office also warned that the warmer conditions made storms more likely.

"The trouble is that as the temperatures get higher, it increases the chance of some home-grown showers and, if that happens, the showers will be heavy and sharp and possibly come with the odd rumble of thunder,” forecaster Sarah Kent told The Independent.

“It is swings and roundabouts."

The new forecast comes as eastern parts of the UK suffer with drizzle and gloom, brought in by a breeze from the east. But softer gusts coming from the south will replace these winds, allowing the warmth to break through.

Ms Kent said: "The wind direction is shifting, so we lose this really cloudy, misty and murky easterly wind and by the time we get through to Saturday we have got quite light wind, but it is coming from a southerly direction across the country. It is not going to be wall-to-wall sunshine, unfortunately, but it is going to be warmer."

The breakthrough will first be seen late Saturday in the East Midlands, East Anglia and central and southern England.

Ms Kent added: "We could see 21C in London, possibly 22C, but that's a real outside chance if everything comes together.”

Sunday is likely to remain warm at 20C (68F) in the south with the North East, which has been blighted by bad weather, peaking at around 16C (60.8F) – a jump of 10C from Wednesday.

Breezes are expected to endure in western parts of the UK all weekend – with Northern Ireland and Cornwall especially both experiencing persistent showers – but the sun will triumph over the gloom elsewhere.

Ms Kent said: "Then it looks consistently sunny for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday."

Temperatures are expected to remain warm – at least 20C (68F) for the rest of the week – but low pressures lurking in the west threaten to spread those showers across the country.