The weather in the UK is set to get hotter than Jamaica THIS WEEK – with summer heatwaves approaching

Monday will be sunny across England and Wales, but cloudier conditions and light rain are expected in Scotland and Northern Ireland ahead of a warmer week

The Met Office says temperatures could soar into the mid-30s this week and parts of the UK could be hotter than Jamaica and Portugal.

Friday is expected to be the hottest day of the year, with temperatures steadily rising until then.

Monday is expected to bring sunny spells for England and Wales ahead of hotter mid-week temperatures, while Scotland and Northern Ireland can expect cloudier conditions with light rain.

And once warm weather sets in, it could become a feature of summer, with heatwaves also likely in the coming months and a forecaster hailing a turning point after a disappointing start to the year.

Steven Keates of the Met Office said: “There haven’t been many exceptionally warm or hot days this year, but that is about to change.

“We are expected to experience a brief heatwave late next week.”

Temperatures are currently forecast to hit 32C in the south-east on Friday, but Mr Keates added: “It could potentially be a bit hotter… mid-30s is a possibility.”

Should mercury levels creep into the 30s this week, the UK would likely be hotter than Portugal, Jamaica, Costa Rica, the Canary Islands and Cyprus.

It would also be the hottest day of the year so far, dwarfing the record 27.5C set at Heathrow in mid-May.

“We should comfortably beat that on Friday and possibly beat it or come very close on Wednesday and Thursday as well,” Keates said.

The meteorologist added that heat waves – three consecutive days of high temperatures – are possible between June and mid-September.

“We expect it to be warmer than average at the moment, with an increasing likelihood of heat waves,” he said.

“There haven’t been any heat waves so far this year…the more likely it is the further south, southeast, you are.”

It comes as British tourists traveling to Spain or Portugal have been warned of intense weather conditions as temperatures rise.

The mercury could top 40C in some Spanish cities with no sign of the heatwave calming down over the next few days.

Intense conditions are expected in the Costa del Sol, as well as in the Balearic and Canary Islands, until the end of next week.

An orange weather warning has been issued with highs of 44C forecast in Andalucia.

UK forecast for the next 5 days

Today:

Sunny moments and fine weather across England and Wales. Cloudier with light rain in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with heavier showers in Northern Scotland.

This evening:

Cool in the south and cloudy in the northwest where rain may occur. Most areas will be largely vacant.

Tuesday:

Mainly dry with varying degrees of cloud, interspersed with sunny spells. Scotland and Northern Ireland could be overcast with areas of rain.

Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:

Temperatures will rise to potentially hot levels through Friday. The Northwest will continue to experience cloud, rain and windy conditions.