The hot weather that made April one of the warmest on record is set to continue over the weekend.
Temperatures will reach as high as 88F (31.1C) – thanks to a ‘Spanish plume’ moving in from the Mediterranean.
The phenomenon, a wedge of hot air, happens when a gap between high pressure over northern Europe and low pressure over the Atlantic sucks the warm air up from Spain and North Africa.
Warm weather is expected to continue, raising fears of drought as 46 of the 48 main rivers in England and Wales run at 'exceptionally low' levels
With perfect timing, this particular plume is set to arrive on Friday, staying until Sunday.
The South East will experience the best of the good weather, with temperatures in East Anglia and London pushing near the hottest mark of 2011 – the 82F (27.8C) recorded in Wisley, Surrey, on Easter Saturday.
