Exact date Britain will be hotter than Menorca as 24C heatwave hits in days

The UK is set to bask in temperatures that will put many Mediterranean holiday islands to shame, as the mercury is predicted to soar past 20C.

The current dreary weather, which drenched much of the country yesterday afternoon and into the evening, will soon be a distant memory as the sun is set to make a welcome return. In just a few days, temperatures are expected to skyrocket to a balmy 24C, weather maps indicate.

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Several locations across the country, including Manchester in England and Inverness, Fort William, Aberdeen and Edinburgh in Scotland, are set to bask in glorious sunshine with temperatures hovering around 18-20C during this period, according to the maps. And on May 3, it's set to hit 24C, while Menorca will only reach 18C.

For the period from May 2 to 11, the Met Office's forecast states: "In the first part of this period, many areas of the UK are expected to see periods of rain or showers. Some of these showers will be heavy and thundery, with the greatest chance of thunderstorms in the southeast."

"Along with this will be a fair amount of low cloud in the east at times, with spells of coastal fog, but also temperatures generally above average for the time of year. Overall, northwestern parts of the UK are likely to be driest and sunniest.", reports the Mirror.

"Through the second week, temperatures will return closer to normal, perhaps dipping back below average, but it will also tend to turn gradually drier and more settled, with changeable conditions most likely to hang on longest in the south and southeast."

The upcoming forecast is a stark contrast to today's dreary outlook, with temperatures unlikely to climb higher than 11C across the nation. On Friday night, the Lake District saw temperatures plummet to a chilly -6.3C, while Heathrow Airport in West London enjoyed milder weather at 14.7C.

However, today and tomorrow are set to be consistently cooler throughout the UK.

Meanwhile, heavy rain is expected to sweep northwards across many eastern and central areas today, with the west likely to see drier and brighter conditions, including sunny spells and the odd shower, though it will feel quite cool for most.