UK weather forecast: Thunderstorm showers before temperatures rise for 22C Easter baking

A band of miserable weather with precipitation readings of up to 6mm per hour will move across northern Scotland in the early hours of this morning, according to weather maps from forecaster WXCharts

A final thunderstorm shower will hit parts of the country today before the Easter weekend begins with a rising ray of sunshine.

Meteorologists are predicting mild highs of up to 22C this weekend and many will enjoy the long break under warm and bright skies.

But on Wednesday forecasters expect heavy rain and thunder to sweep across parts of the country.

A band of miserable weather with precipitation readings of up to 6mm per hour will move across northern Scotland in some wetter regions in the early hours of this morning, according to weather maps from forecaster WXCharts.

Scattered showers are then expected to sweep through Wales and southern England for the remainder of the day.

And the Met Office has forecast a wet and cool day for many, along with scattered showers and some patches of mist through into the evening.

But then mercury will skyrocket as some forecasters claim it could be as high as 21C between Thursday and Saturday, according to Netweather forecasts.

As the bank holiday weekend approaches, temperatures are expected to rise and Britons could see highs in the low 20s as a blast of hot Saharan air sweeps across the nation.

The searing heat, after freezing sub-zero weather last month had much of Britain shivering, would make it hotter than Malta.

A “Sahara” blast of hot air is expected to push mercury higher in the coming days, just in time for the bank holiday – although there are still plenty of chances of more rain.

In comparison, Malta, in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and the North African coast, is forecast to have a temperature of just 18°C.

Holiday favorite Greece and party capital Ibiza in the Balearics are expected to enjoy 17 and 16C respectively.

BBC meteorologist Louise Lear said air from the Sahara “will advance steadily north, with the exception perhaps of the North Islands”.

UK weather forecast

Today:

The rain is beginning to clear up Scotland but the far north-east remains cloudy, damp and cool. More sunshine further south but areas of cloud along with isolated showers concentrated in Wales, South West and Central England. Warm feeling, only light wind.

This evening:

Any showers will subside, then many areas will become dry with clear spells for some time. Some southern, western and central areas eventually see foggy low clouds and some nebulae.

Thursday:

A dry day almost everywhere. Some places start off rather gray and maybe foggy, but clouds are mostly burning back on some west coasts, allowing for warm rays of sunshine for many.