Britons are bracing themselves for the fourth heatwave of the summer with temperatures set to soar once again.
This weekend will see plenty of sunshine and dry weather, although there may be a few isolated showers and a slight dip in temperatures.
Temperatures in the UK on Thursday peaked at 30.6C at Merryfield in Somerset, the Met Office said, making it the 12th day in a row when 30C has been exceeded somewhere in the country.
There were 18 consecutive days of 30C-plus temperatures in the infamous summer of 1976, when drought conditions damaged crops, scorched landscapes and forced people to use standpipes in the street.
Met Office spokesman Graham Madge said: “The settled and fine conditions people are currently enjoying look locked in for the next seven to 10 days and are likely to remain strong.”
David Hayter, the Met Office’s Deputy Chief Meteorologist, added: “Every day for the last 11 days, somewhere in the UK has seen temperatures reach or exceed 30C.
“The high pressure, which has brought this prolonged fine spell, will continue for the next week or so at least, but will shift enough to enable a more northerly flow that will introduce a cooler feel that will end the run of 30C days.
“However, we are still likely to see some locations remain in heatwave conditions to finish the week.”
However, the GFS model shows highs of 30C and 31C coming in eastern, western and southern England next Thursday.
Temperatures are set to peak on Saturday, potential highs of 35C in southern and south-eastern England, with 33C and 34C likely across central areas.
The GFS model shows potential highs of 35C in southern and south-eastern England, with 33C and 34C on the cards quite widely across central areas.
Wales could also creep as high as 30C, with highs of 32C possible as far north as Yorkshire.
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It comes as Britons have so far coped with a sweltering summer of above-average temperatures and persistently warm nights.
England has been particularly warm, with mean temperatures currently 2.4C above the average 21C that could be expected.
The Met Office said Wales is sitting 2.2C above an average of around 19.3C.
While Scotland and Northern Ireland have remained closer to their seasonal norms of 17.3C and 18.6C, they are still running above average at 0.9C and 1.3C respectively.
High temperatures are set to coincide with one of the busiest days of the year on the roads, with drivers warned to expect long delays for summer getaways.
Most schools in England and Wales break up for the summer holidays at the end of this week or early next week, while the academic year has already ended in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The RAC predicted Saturday will be the busiest day on the roads for getaway journeys, with 3.8 million planned. Friday and Sunday will each see an estimated 3.4 million.
A further 6.8 million trips will be spread across the three-day period, with drivers unsure which exact day they will hit the road.
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