As the weekend heatwave approaches, weather maps indicate a potential uptick in temperatures across the UK.

"A prolonged heatwave is overdue, because we haven’t had one this summer", Jim Dale, founder and senior meteorological consultant at British Weather Services, told Express.co.uk. "It’s always been short-lived.”

According to weather maps, temperatures in the South of England will reach a comfortable 24C on August, with lows of 14 to 15C in the north.

Mr Dale also hinted that a heatwave may even occur in a long-awaited summer.

He said: “We might see a week of prolonged hot weather, as we’ve not had it so far.

"Expectations would be that we would see a week somewhere in August that does deliver a hot weather scenario.

"When that will be is difficult to determine as it’s still far away", he added, as climate change has made forecasts increasingly difficult due to unexpected weather shifts.

"We’ve been missing high-pressure, which will give us anything from 21 to 29C", Dale explained. "In order to get the heatwave, we need a southerly or south-easterly drift from Europe. It hasn’t happened yet this summer, but there's a 60/40 chance it might."

According to the Met Office, the first week of August will see a "slightly increased chance of more settled spells of weather developing at times, particularly in the south".

"However, there is still a substantial chance of other weather types too, with more changeable periods also likely", they warned.

"Through the period as a whole, drier than average conditions are more likely than wetter than average. Warmer than average conditions are also weakly favoured overall, with a slightly enhanced likelihood of short-lived hot spells."

This comes as temperatures as expected to reach 29C tomorrow across the UK after a particularly cold and wet July. 

Today:

Outbreaks of rain across Northern Ireland and western Scotland will gradually turn lighter and patchier through the day. Winds also easing here. Largely dry with light winds and sunny spells elsewhere, feeling very warm in the sunshine.

Tonight:

A warm and rather muggy night away from the northwest. Rain in the northwest mostly easing, but remaining cloudy. Dry with clear spells elsewhere.

Friday:

Cloudy in the northwest, but sunny spells gradually developing, temperatures near average. Elsewhere, sunny spells and very warm or hot in the sunshine with light winds.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday:

An increasing risk of rain or heavy showers on Saturday, remaining rather humid. Drier, brighter and fresher on Sunday. Blustery with rain or showers on Monday, and feeling cooler.