UK weather forecast: Spain's 47C heatwave to trigger extreme heat across Britain as Iberian plume hits

Temperatures look set to teeter towards 30C this weekend but could continue to soar following a heatwave in Spain.

Jim Dale, a senior meteorologist at British Weather Services, told The Daily Express: "At the moment the focus is on Spain for this weekend onwards and possible record temperatures, 47.6C being the current record.

"The bottom line - we are in very uncertain times with climate change and we are possibly at a tipping point."

Dale’s prediction for 47.6C comes as experts at WXCHARTS warn Iberia will likely face a heatwave.

Parts of Spain could see mercury reach 44C and parts of Portugal could reach 43C, the weather website has indicated.

The Met Office has forecast temperatures to reach 27C in London by the weekend.

The UK’s national weather service also indicated mercury could reach 25C in Manchester but will hover slightly lower in other parts of Britain.

Conditions are expected to feel humid across much of the country, with scatterings of showers possible throughout the week.

Yellow thunderstorm warnings are currently in place across Northern Ireland, north-western Scotland, the eastern coast of England and south-west.

Fifteen flood alerts have been issued across England and Scotland, according to the Environment Agency and Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Bottle Brook in Derbyshire, areas near the River Soar, tributaries on Lower Lee, Middlesbrough Becks, River Cole and Dorcan Brook, River Erewash tributaries in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, River Leen, Day Brook and Tottle Brook in Nottinghamshire, nearby River Maun, River Trent tributaries and tributaries in both North Derbyshire and South Derbyshire are all at risk of possible flooding.

Possible flooding is also a cause for concern in Caithness and Sutherland, Easter Ross and Great Glen, Skye and Lochaber and Wester Ross.

Looking ahead to later this month and early July, the Met Office said: “Prolonged sunshine for many southern and eastern to begin the period; however northern and western areas are more likely to be cloudier with occasional rain, which may turn heavy for some.

“Northern areas are also more likely to see stronger winds than of late. It is expected to remain very warm to hot throughout inland areas, but coastal regions may see lower temperatures as a result of some sea breezes.

“A similar pattern is likely to continue into early July with more unsettled weather across the north. Showers, some thundery, should not be discounted further south but, generally, southern and central parts of the UK are likely to retain the driest and brightest conditions.

“Temperatures likely to remain above average, with very warm or hot conditions probable at times.”