Summer At Last: Temperatures To Hit 27C

The UK has to endure just a few more days of gloomy conditions before fine summer weather arrives, according to forecasters.

Weeks of wind and rain will finally give way to extended sunny spells in southern parts of Britain this weekend.

The weather will continue to improve across most of the country next week, with temperatures of up to 27 degrees Celsius expected in the South East.

Sky News weather presenter Isobel Lang said: "While parts of Scotland and northern England will see rain this weekend as a result of an Atlantic depression, the South will see pressure rising, bringing warmer weather and light winds.

"Next week will see more warm weather across much of the UK, and temperatures could reach 26 or 27 degrees in the South East."

Thursday and Friday will see a mixture of sunshine and showers, with a risk of more heavy rain in central and eastern parts of England.

The wettest period of April to June on record has been caused by the jet stream settling unusually far south.

But experts believe it is on its way back north, a move which could herald more traditional summer weather in time for the start of the Olympic Games.

While Olympic organisers are likely to be encouraged by the forecast, the previous wet conditions have already caused problems.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (Locog), said special measures have been taken after spectator areas at the Eton Dorney rowing lake and the Greenwich Park equestrian venues were left waterlogged.

Spectators attending the Games' more rural venues have been advised to bring wellies.

The Environment Agency, which has been dealing with widespread flooding across the UK in recent weeks, has 20 flood alerts in place, and one flood warning.