UK weather: 'Mini heatwave' forecast maps show huge temperature spikes this week

Britain is set to enjoy a 'mini heatwave' as warmer than usual conditions continue this week. Some areas of the UK last week, with most of the country staying dry, settled and sunny today thanks to an area of high pressure.

While temperatures are set to dip towards the mid-teens for the next couple of days, new forecasts show another spike coming towards the end of the week - setting up yet another perfect weekend for enjoying the outdoors. The continued sunshine and noticeable lack of rain during April - a month renowned for its showers - has raised the likelihood of a 'mini ', a spell of noticeably well above the seasonal average.

One map from the for Saturday shows maximum temperatures of 20C to 21C across large parts of , including , the southeast, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire.

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Highs of around 17C to 19C are meanwhile forecast for other parts of the country including Wales, Northern Ireland and the south of . Cooler conditions are forecast across the north of Scotland, where the mercury will rise to 14C.

The Met Office's Kathryn Chalk said in her latest forecast: "If you've been enjoying the sunshine this weekend then I have good news for you, as there's plenty more on offer as we go through the week.

"This is all to do with high pressure dominating, bringing fine, dry, settled conditions, lighter winds as well compared to what we've had over recent days. It'll be chilly by night, but actually temperatures will start warming up as we go through the week."

Another map from MetDesk meanwhile shows temperatures several degrees higher than the seasonal average on Saturday, turning a large part of the mainland UK a deep shade of red. However, one forecaster is predicting a return to colder conditions around the middle of the month - and even the chance of .

James Madden from Exacta Weather said: "High-pressure-influenced will keep the overall theme largely settled with ample periods of sunshine for many through the upcoming week.

"This could also bring temperatures to and around the 20C mark in parts of southern England by the end of the working week and prior to some slightly cooler and cloudier weather by the upcoming weekend in parts further south.

"Additionally, parts further north could hold on to the sunny conditions for several days longer due to the situation of high pressure influencing our weather and some of these parts further north could also see temperatures in the high teens or possibly 20C in the best of the sunshine over the next several to 10 days.

"These expected settled and mild to warm conditions will then pave the way for another wintry blast with some quite decent snow prospects for quite late in the season and in and around mid to late April, possibly a little earlier."