Britons are basking in glorious 24C sunshine today and the mercury is expected to rise even further by next week.
While the Paris Olympics have been drenched by torrential downpours, London has for once been blessed with sunny weather.
People have been pictured making the most of the sun, with people heading to the beaches in Dorset.
Also, Her Majesty Queen Camilla was spotted at Ascot Racecourse today, wearing a hat and summer dress.
Most of the UK can expect drier, sunnier spells and light winds today, which comes after a dismal summer.
People wear sun hats and shades as they enjoy the balmy sun in Weymouth, Dorset
Racegoers pictured arriving at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire for a big day of horse racing at the QIPCO King George Day
While the Paris Olympics have been drenched by torrential downpours, London has for once been blessed with sunny weather (Saturday’s Met Office forecast)
Tomorrow the temperature is expected to rise to 27C. Most of the country is expected to see sunny weather
On Monday, the mercury will rise further still to 28C, according to the Met Office
Tomorrow the temperature is expected to rise to 27C and on Monday it will rise further still to 28C, according to the Met Office.
David Hayter, Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, said: ‘As we go through the weekend, the jet stream will weaken to the west of the UK generating an area of high pressure that will slowly move in across the UK.
‘High pressure means the air is sinking from higher in the atmosphere and that brings drier, settled and sunnier weather.
‘Temperatures will rise too, becoming widely above average. We could see maxima of 27°C in the south and 25°C in the northeast by Sunday.
A woman in a gold dress poses as she arrives for the Royal Ascot in Berkshire during warm seasonal weather
Her Majesty Queen Camilla pictured at Ascot Racecourse today with her racing manager, John Warren for the QIPCO King George Day
People enjoy the return of warm July weather as the summer holidays begin on the beach in Weymouth, Dorset.
The south and the south east can expect fewer showers although they may still experience lighter showers during the afternoon. (A packed beach in Weymouth, Dorset on July 27)
‘There’s a bit more in the way of patchy cloud in Northern Ireland, south and west Scotland and the northern isles, so temperatures will be lower there.’
Greg Dewhurst from the Met Office warned that water temperatures can be much lower despite the warm weather.
He said: ‘Be mindful that at this time of year the water’s still pretty cold, around 16, 17, 18C.
‘It’s not like in the Mediterranean, where it’s much warmer.’
But it’s not good weather for everyone as there will be showers in parts of Scotland, northern England, Wales and the Midlands with the possibility of isolated thunder.
The south and the south east can expect fewer showers although they may still experience lighter showers during the afternoon.
Most of the UK can expect drier, sunnier spells and light winds today (Beachgoers pictured soaking up the sun in Weymouth)
People relaxing in Greenwich Park during the sunny weather yesterday, July 26
Walkers out in the sunshine on a warm afternoon in the countryside in Dunsden, Oxfordshire on Friday, July 26
A man enjoys the warm weather on the beach in Dover, Kent on Friday, July 26
Next week, conditions are expected to turn increasingly warm or even hot in central, southern and eastern areas.
According to the BBC, central and eastern areas of England could see temperatures reach 28C by Tuesday or even the low 30s.
It is possible some places may reach heatwave criteria but it is uncertain how long the warm weather will last and it is possible it may break down from mid-week.
A UK heatwave threshold is met when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold. However, the threshold varies by UK county.
Earlier this month, UK temperatures reached their highest point in the year so far.
St James’ Park in central London recorded 31.9C.
