Thursday could mark the hottest day of the year, as the Met Office predicts a surge in temperatures due to a burst of heat originating from the Sahara Desert. Meteorologist Alex Deakin mentioned in the latest 10-day forecast that warm air and dust will be carried up from the Sahara by a southerly wind.

According to the Met Office’s maps, London might reach 18C, Cardiff 16C, Manchester 17C, and Newcastle 15C. However, temperatures are expected to be lower in Northern Ireland and Scotland, with Edinburgh possibly hitting 14C. Deakin also noted that some areas could experience temperatures as high as 19C, especially in eastern England.

Comparatively, Barcelona is forecasted to reach only 14C tomorrow, while Athens and Zante could see 17C. Last week, Kew Gardens recorded a temperature of 18.7C, the highest of the year so far, but it is anticipated that temperatures could surpass that mark tomorrow.

Temperature anomaly maps indicate that temperatures will significantly exceed the seasonal average, particularly in England, Wales, and parts of Scotland. The maps highlight areas where temperatures are expected to rise well above normal for this time of year.

Met Office meteorologist Honor Criswick mentioned that Thursday may bring cloud and rain, with the eastern regions likely to experience long sunny spells until the rain moves in from the west. The BBC Weather forecast for Thursday predicts cloud and rain in western Scotland and Northern Ireland, spreading to other areas by evening, while sunshine is expected elsewhere.

Friday is expected to bring plenty of sunshine to some regions, with England and Wales mostly cloudy but dry, and Scotland and Northern Ireland enjoying sunny conditions. The weekend forecast includes generally dry conditions on Saturday, turning cloudy with some brightness in the north, while Sunday may bring variable cloud cover and a chance of scattered showers in the southwest.