BRITAIN will be hotter than Ibiza today with sizzling 23C sunshine.
Friday kicks off a six-day heatwave across the UK before even balmier weather hits in the second half of the month.
After a bright and mild start this morning, the mercury will continue to rise in southern areas by the afternoon.
It is expected to hit 23C in London by 4pm – well above the 18C on the Balearic island of Ibiza.
And if it rises beyond 23.4C, it could make it the hottest day of the year so far.
Elsewhere, temperatures will hover in the low twenties and high teens across the rest southern England.
Further north things will be slightly cooler, with some minor outbreaks of rain, but still sunny and pleasant for much of the day.
And the warm weather will continue into the weekend and the new working week.
Forecasters reckon Brits are in for highs of 19C on Saturday, rising to 20C on Sunday.
Next week is also shaping up to be warm and summery, with temperatures reaching 23C.
Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said: “There will be a lot of dry and bright weather around this weekend, with some warmth in addition to that.
“On Friday, 22C, perhaps even 23C possible in the south east if we get enough sunshine.
“Not a great amount of rain across southern parts of the UK into the start of the weekend.
“High pressure is building in instead and that will lead to a lot of dry and bright weather across Saturday and into Sunday, and it will increasingly turn warmer once again.
“For much of the UK, Saturday is looking like a fine day.
“Decent spells on sunshine for many, though not for all, but sunshine and light winds will mean a pleasant feel for things with temperatures widely at 20C or just above 20C.
“Sunday is looking similar with a lot of dry and fine weather, and then turning increasingly warm through next week.”
And things will only get better after that, with Mediterranean-style weather on the way later this month.
Mid-May is expected to be particularly cheerful, with “very warm” sunshine and highs of around 23C on the way.
By the time the Jubilee bank holiday rolls around, it could be a scorching 30C.
The UK’s hottest day so far this year was Good Friday, when 23.4C was recorded in St James’s Park in central London.
