Forecasters at the Met Office have issued severe weather warnings for the rain across parts of western Britain today. Scattered heavy showers will push north across Ireland throughout the day but much of country will not experience the torrential downpours that are forecast for western Britain.
Rainfall amounts could reach 60 mm or more in parts of Wales and northern England, accompanied by strong winds. This could cause some disruption in places. The rain will ease during the early hours of Saturday morning.
In the South East of England, it will be much drier and will become oppressively hot as warm and humid air spreads up from continental Europe.
Temperatures are expected to rise into the high 20s Celsius today and over the weekend, and perhaps even the low 30s Celsius in parts of Kent and East Anglia on Sunday.
It remains to be seen whether the temperature will rise above the hottest seen so far this year, with 30.7 °C at St James's Park in London on 25 July.
While it will be mainly dry in the South East, there will be some cloud around and any sunshine will be quite hazy with fog lingering along some coasts. There may even be a few thundery showers later on Sunday.
Met Office Chief Forecaster Martin Young said: "While it will be hot in the South East, we're not expecting wall-to-wall sunshine and it will feel quite humid and oppressive over the weekend. As we head into next week, south westerly winds will push that humid air away to bring fresher conditions, and showers to north west Britain."
Online forecasts and warnings from the UK.
In Ireland this afternoon and evening, another round of heavy showers and embedded thunderstorms will break out. Between 10-20 mms rain can be expected where showers occur. Highest temperatures will ranges 18-22 C, warmest in the east. Winds occasionally SW 15-30 mph.
Irish long range forecast here.
