UK weather: Heatwave to peak this weekend as temperatures soar to 34C

South-east Wales, central southern and south-east England will likely see the hottest weather with temperatures on Friday, up to 33C forecast.

However, all parts of the UK should expect hotter weather.

It could even be Wales’ hottest day of the year so far if the temperature exceeds 30.8C as forecast.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has an “extreme wildfire warning” in place from Friday until Monday, covering different parts of the country across the weekend.

It is urging the public to “think twice” before using anything involving a naked flame. Firefighters in Scotland have had to tackle a number of wildfires during recent warm periods.

This heatwave’s peak is unlikely to exceed the UK’s highest temperature of the year so far, when 35.8C was reached on 1 July in Faversham, Kent, during the last heatwave.

The Met Office defines a heatwave as when a temperature threshold — which varies by region — being reached or exceeded for at least three consecutive days.