Forecast charts indicate the peak of the warmth is likely on Friday, May 1, with temperatures reaching their highest levels by the late afternoon at around 18:00 BST. Areas including London, Cambridge, Oxford, Reading, Milton Keynes, Birmingham, Northampton, Luton, Peterborough and Norwich are all expected to see highs of around 21C to 22C, making them the hottest parts of the country.

The warmest locations are expected to be concentrated across the Midlands, south and east of England.

The warm spell is expected to be short-lived, however, with conditions becoming more changeable as the weekend progresses. Saturday, May 2 is likely to remain relatively mild, with temperatures still reaching between 18C and 21C in parts of England, but with increasing cloud.

By Sunday, May 3, temperatures are expected to ease back into the mid to high teens, with showers becoming more widespread, and similar conditions are forecast for Bank Holiday Monday on May 4, with a mix of sunny spells and outbreaks of rain and highs generally between 15C and 19C.

The Met Office said a shift toward more unsettled weather is likely heading into the weekend.

Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree said: “By Friday, conditions are expected to become more unsettled, with rain and showers spreading in from the southwest, some of which could be heavy and possibly thundery. Ahead of this, it will feel warm and humid in parts of England on Friday, with temperatures potentially reaching 24C in central and southern areas. Into the Bank Holiday weekend, the weather looks more changeable, with showers at times – particularly in the north – but also some sunnier intervals. Details will become clearer closer to the weekend, so do keep up to date with the latest Met Office forecast.”

While many areas will enjoy a brief burst of warmth to start the long weekend, the overall picture points to a mixed Bank Holiday, with sunshine and showers likely to alternate across much of the UK.