Weekend weather: Met Office forecast sunshine as temperatures “steadily climb” - but beware of frosty mornings

Weather watchers in the UK are being told to expect conditions to be "dry with a fair amount of sunshine" today (Friday) and into the weekend. The Met Office said high pressure will remain dominant for the UK through, bringing largely fine, dry and sunny conditions for many - with some exceptions, where cloudy and windy conditions will appear, including chilly mornings with the chance of frost.

For Friday, a Met Office forecaster said: "Any low cloud and mist on Thursday morning will quickly lift, leading to another fine day with plenty of sunshine. It will remain breezy in the southwest, but lighter winds elsewhere will allow temperatures to climb.

"Many areas will feel warm in the sunshine, with highs of around 20C widely and 21C-22C possible across southern parts. Eastern coastal areas will remain cooler, and temperatures will drop sharply again overnight under clear skies."

Steven Keates, deputy chief forecaster, said temperatures would peak on Friday - and possibly stay high over the weekend. "High pressure will remain broadly in charge of the UK's weather for the remainder of this week and into the weekend," he said. "Most places will remain dry with a fair amount of sunshine too.

"As is often the case, there are a few exceptions, with cloudier conditions for some at times and patchy rain possible for northern Scotland later in the weekend, so keep an eye on the forecast as the week progresses

"In the sunshine, we're expecting temperatures to steadily climb, likely peaking in the low twenties on Friday and over the weekend. Onshore breezes will keep some coastal areas somewhat cooler. And gardeners beware, where skies are clear and winds light overnight, a patchy frost is also likely."

The sunny conditions could be a bonus for UK tourist spots, according to Eddy Leviten, executive director at Tourism Alliance. "This is when the UK shows what it does best," he said. "Few destinations can match the range on offer, with coast, countryside, heritage, events, attractions, culture, and cities, all within easy reach.

"For our members, it’s a clear window to drive bookings, support jobs and deliver real value to the UK economy. The visitor economy is one of our biggest economic sectors, worth £147bn."

However, the warmer weather is not good news for everyone, with hay fever sufferers being warned of some high pollen levels.