Wednesday
A scorching hot day across much of England and Wales, with temperatures well into the 30s for central and southern areas. Extensive strong sunshine, some thin high cloud and haze. Some early low cloud ain the west, may leave misty areas around coasts in west Wales and Cornwall into afternoon. Cloudier west Scotland, odd spots of rain. More high cloud generally for Ireland. Light winds for many, local breezes from the North Sea will keep eastern areas less hot. Highs reaching 35C or locally hotter in central-southern England, 31 to 33C for the Midlands, up to Yorkshire also east and south Wales. 27C Cumbria and much of Scotland, also Northern Ireland.

Wednesday night
A muggy and very warm night. Light winds for most places. An easterly breeze in the south, strongest southwest coasts. A veil of high cloud across Scotland and Ireland, enough for odd spots or locally a burst of rain mainly for Ireland, though most places stay dry. Some hazy high cloud for western England and Wales, clearer skies toward central-east and southeastern counties. Fog over the North Sea is likely to roll onshore over coasts from the Humber northwards over northeast England, likewise Aberdeenshire coast. Lowest temperatures staying around 20C in southern towns and cities, nearer 16C in eastern England, 11 to 14C Scotland.

Thursday
Another roaster, with sunshine widely, some thin high level cloud, mainly in the west. Thicker cloud for Scotland, areas of rain for the Highlands, some thundery. Low risk a thundery shower western England and Wales. A strengthening and gusty east to southeasterly wind. Fog may linger along North Sea coast, keeping the immediate coast considerably cooler than inland, only near 15C. Meanwhile, inland will rise widely above 30C, topping 35C in central-southern counties, and some peak values may also occur to the west of hills in Wales, the Midlands and Cheshire. Around 30C in Ireland and southern Scotland, 22 to 25C northern Scotland.

Friday
Scattered thunderstorms are expected from before dawn in some parts of Wales and central-western England. Also some areas of rain for western Scotland and the west of Ireland, some heavy and possibly thundery. As the day goes on, a greater risk of torrential thunderstorms for northern England, central and western Scotland. Localised thundery showers further south, but much of southern England and Wales sees a dry and sunnier afternoon, remaining very hot and humid in the east. Highs 32 to 36C in central and eastern England, 25 to 28C further north and west across Britain and Ireland, whilst central-northeastern Scotland will be nearer 17C.