TEMPERATURES are set to soar in North Wales with some parts of the region hitting over 30C.

The Met Office says that most of the UK is now benefitting from a brief spell of very warm weather and temperatures are expected to hit their peak on Friday, July 31, before quickly cooling down over the weekend.

Much of the UK is now experiencing warm, bright, settled weather with plenty of sunshine and increasing temperatures. Warm air is being drawn up from the continent and temperatures will reach mid to high 20C for much of the UK on Friday.

Locally, highs of 31C will hit Hawarden on Friday – with the hottest hour predicted to be 3pm to 4pm. Neighbouring Wrexham will feel an ever so slightly cooler 29C at its peak – ranging between 3pm and 5pm.

Andy Page, chief meteorologist for the Met Office, said; “The bulk of England and Wales will have dry, very warm and sunny weather to end the week with Friday likely to be the hottest day of the year so far for the UK. A few thunderstorms are possible later on Friday and then a cold front moves eastwards by Saturday, bringing a downturn in temperatures once again.”

Sunday will see further showers moving in from the west, interspersed with sunny spells.

To meet the criteria for a heatwave, high temperatures need to persist for three days or more and the Met Office confirmed that this 24-hour short hot spell will not reach the requirements to become an official heatwave.