Exact date UK weather maps turn orange as temperatures hit sweltering 27C

Sausage fans should be optimistic for later this month as new forecast maps show Britain could be basking in perfect weather for a BBQ with a sizzling 27C. May hasn't got off to the warmest of starts this year, but new predictions from the boffins at WXCharts show warmer conditions are not too far away. Fresh data shows parts of England should get a welcome blast from the giant yellow ball in the sky bringing much more normal temperatures for this time of year.

On May 26 forcecasts show Londoners could expect the mercury to easily hit 27C, with the Home Counties also seeing highs of around 26 and 25C. Elsewhere in England, the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Kent and Cambridgeshire will see pleasant readings of around 24 and 25C, although coastal regions will be cooler.

In the Midlands the temperature is still expected to reach the low to mid-20s but further north and into Wales the readings are likely to cool down to highs of only around 19 to 20C.

A Met Office forecast covering May 26 and 27 said Britain should see more "near-normal" temperatures around this time.

It said: "Changeable conditions look to dominate at first, with low pressure often close by. This means periods of rain or showers, some of which could be heavy and more focussed across northwestern areas.

"Drier interludes are also expected, most especially across southeastern UK."

The forecast continued: "As this period progresses, high pressure is likely to begin to build from the south bringing more settled weather, although with occasional showers.

"Temperatures near-normal to begin, but tending to recover as the period progresses, perhaps becoming rather warm by the end of the period, especially in the south.

"Winds will be stronger during the first part of the period, generally from a southwesterly direction, before becoming lighter in line with the more settled conditions."

A cool, unsettled day with some sunny spells and frequent showers. Heaviest showers, with hail and isolated thunderstorms, develop across central and southern UK during the afternoon. Breezy conditions continue, with coastal gales later in the far northeast.

Showers become confined to northern-facing coasts, with long dry periods and some clear spells inland. Turning chilly overnight with local rural frost. Windy in the far northeast with coastal gales.

A cold start with patchy frost in prone areas. Largely dry with variable cloud, a few light showers mainly eastern coasts. Breezy early in east, easing, temperatures slightly below average.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday:

Chilly occasional frosty morning this weekend, then sunny spells Saturday with rain reaching Northern Ireland. Sunday sees rain turning showery, some heavy. Monday mostly dry, rain spreading west later again.