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Thursday starts dry across most of the UK and it is fresher in southern counties than recently. This morning scattered showers are likely in Scotland and Northern Ireland but elsewhere it will be fine. Dry and sunny conditions continue through the afternoon. It will be quite breezy and in north eastern Scotland gales are possible.

Temperatures range from 11C (52F) in the far north west to 21C (70F) in the south. See the rain radar for the latest view.

DWD ICON, forecast temperatures, 16:00 BST Thu 21st June

Summer weather outlook

Seasonal forecast for June, July and August

Summer forecast overview

Tonight most areas remain dry with clear spells. The exception is northern Scotland where thicker cloud brings some outbreaks of rain.

Tomorrow looks mostly fine. Northern Scotland may be cloudier but elsewhere there will be sunny periods. Temperatures should be a degree or two up on today's values.

Barbecue weekend

By the weekend high pressure will be firmly in charge again so it looks pretty good if you're planning a barbecue.

Saturday is expected to be dry and temperatures will be edging back up with maximum values close to 24C (75F) in the south. Northern regions could be cloudier and in the far north west there is a risk of patchy outbreaks of rain pushing in from the Atlantic.

The settled period continues on Sunday. Much of the country will see temperatures of 21C (70F) or higher and in the south 27C (81F) isn't out of the question.

GFS, forecast pressure and precipitation, 16:00 BST Sun 24th June

Heatwave next week

Next week high pressure drifts over the UK and becomes centred to the east. That leads to more fine weather and a feed of increasingly warm continental air. Temperatures during the middle of the week could reach 32C (90F) in southern and central regions.

Later in the week there is a low chance of it turning more changeable in either the north west or the south. However the most probable outcome is that fine and very warm weather will continue in virtually the whole of the country.

GFS, 850hPa temperatures and pressure, 01:00 BST Fri 29th June

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16 day GEFS ensembles at a glance

Dry and very warm or hot weather is shown for much of the period. In early July the risk of showery rain increases slightly in the south. View latest GEFS.