UK weather: 'Mini heatwave' forecast as temperatures set to spike in 92 counties

Advanced weather modelling maps suggest temperatures across , , and are set to spike again in just a few days' time. It comes following the on Friday, when the mercury hit 23.4C.

According to the , temperatures today aren't expected to rise much above 17C - and that looks to be the case for much of next week too. But forecasters suggest next weekend should bring more improved conditions once more, with afternoon as high as 20C - possibly beyond - in several parts of the country. All 92 counties across the UK will be impacted by the heat blast.

The Met Office's maps suggest could hit 20C in the afternoon next Friday. The rest of England and Wales could see 19C quite widely, while temperatures in Scotland and Northern Ireland look set to hover at around 17C.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

The Met Office outlook for Saturday looks fairly similar, albeit with 20C being felt more widely across northern parts of England as well as the south. The national weather agency expects highs of 20C to follow once again next Sunday too.

The GFS weather model suggests temperatures will be highest across southern-central England and Wales next Sunday afternoon. It predicts Gloucestershire will rise the highest to 20C.

And temperature anomaly maps from the GEFS model have turned deep red for next weekend, indicating that temperatures should be well above the expected average for this time of year.

The Met Office's forecast for April 10 to April 19 says "above normal" temperatures can be expected around next weekend. However, thereafter more unsettled conditions are on the cards.

The forecast states: "Widely dry and sunny at first with high pressure across the UK, although cloudier in some parts of the far north and far east, perhaps with some light drizzle at times. Winds are likely to be light with temperatures above normal away from windward coasts.

"A gradual change to a more unsettled weather regime is likely thereafter, with Atlantic frontal systems or showers from the south making inroads across the UK. This is expected to herald a wetter period with showers or longer spells of rain at times, which could be heavy and thundery in places. This could be accompanied by strong winds, particularly in the south and west. Temperatures are likely to gradually return closer to normal."

The forecast for April 20 to May 4 states: "Probably unsettled at the start of this period with showers or longer spells of rain across many areas and temperatures around average. A return to more settled conditions is likely during the last part of April with high pressure becoming more dominant.

"This settled theme continues into early May, although some spells of wetter, unsettled weather remain possible, especially in the south. Temperatures are expected to be above average."