High pressure in charge over the southern half of the UK, which means it will be dry, warm with some sunny spells. Not quite glorious, but some pleasant weather ahead. And our first opportunity of some proper heat by the end of next week – opportunity – not certainty.

Thanks to Becky for the photograph.

This evening and tonight remains cloudy, the odd splash of rain at times though dry for most of the time. Mild, 15’C – cloud tending to clear around dawn.

Friday sees high pressure over the south of England – quite a deep area of low pressure to the west of Scotland which includes remnants of the first Atlantic tropical storm of the year, and has arguably given the low pressure enough oomph to send it further north.

Quite a lot of fair-weather cloud around, likely more cloud than sun for much of the day, though sunshine amounts will tend to increase as the afternoon goes on. Warm, though breezy, around 22’C, maybe 23’C. Mostly clear skies overnight, down to around 11’C.

Saturday starts sunny. Quite a lot of fair-weather cloud again bubbling up, particularly around the lunchtime hours, but remaining bright with some sunny spells – and more in the way of sunshine as the afternoon goes on. A small chance of a shower – it shouldn’t be anything of note. Warm but breezy once more, 22’C, maybe 23’C. Mostly clear skies overnight, down to around 11’C.

Sunday starts sunny but again plenty of fair-weather cloud will bubble up to leave more cloud than sunshine, but still some sunny spells – especially later in the day. The breeze more north-westerly so temperatures a shade lower at 21’C. Mostly clear skies overnight, down to around 11’C.

Monday again starts sunny, and again quite a lot of cloud bubbles up – potentially fairly overcast for a while late morning into the lunchtime period. Sunnier later once more. Temperatures between 21’C and 24’C, depending on cloud amounts. Mostly clear skies overnight, down to around 9’C.

Tuesday should see less cloud developing, though likely a fair amount of high cloud at times to make the sunshine hazy. Warm or very warm, somewhere between 22’C and 25’C. Clear skies overnight, down to around 11’C.

Wednesday likely sees good sunny spells, with some fair weather cloud. Temperatures should be on the very warm side, somewhere between 23’C and 26’C.

Uncertainty increases by time we get to Thursday/Friday but most likely we’ll remain dry with at least some sunny spells. Temperatures may remain in the warm/very warm category – but slightly more likely we end up tapping into some of the heat over France (some model runs get close to 40’C for France next week) – if we do then somewhere between 25’C and 28’C would be easily feasible – with an outside chance into the low 30’s.

Many options open for next weekend, very warm, hot, sunny, thundery downpours, outright heavy rain or even a cooler northerly flow. Slight favourite for Saturday would to keep the warmth or heat, whichever we had on Thursday/Friday – slight favourite for Sunday would be a cooler northerly flow. Rain or sunshine? Could be either.