UK WEATHER: MET OFFICE FORECASTS SUNSHINE AND SHOWERS High pressure from the Mediterranean Sea is predicted to sweep over the UK during the middle of August following a drizzly start to the

month. The latest heat maps from Netweather turn a deep shade of red to show hot air gripping Europe on Thursday, August 19, with France reaching sizzling highs of 36C. The maps then show

the hot air moving upwards towards the south-east of England on the same day, as London, Kent and Essex are gripped by 29C. RELATED ARTICLES Elsewhere, Yorkshire, Manchester and Bristol

could also bask in highs of 27C. Brian Gaze, a forecaster at Weather Outlook, also shared a map of red-hot heat sweeping over north-western Europe during the middle of the month. He

periods are interrupted by downpours of thundery showers. But he added the second part of the month could see some more "very warm periods". The forecaster said: "The first

half will see mixed with showers or longer periods of rain but also warm and fine spells. "The driest weather will probably be in the south and east, but a heightened risk of heavy

showers or thunderstorms means local variations could be large. READ MORE: MET OFFICE WARNINGS EXTENDED: DELUGE OF RAIN TO HIT UK IN HOURS UK long-range forecast: Temperatures could reach

36C in France (Image: NETWEATHER) RELATED ARTICLES "Temperatures should be above average when aggregated over the period as a whole. "In the second half, the chance of settled and

very warm periods increases. "Showery spells of rain are still probable, particularly in the north and west." The Met Office's long-range forecast between Thursday, August 19,

and Thursday, September 2, added temperatures could soar "above average" as the month progresses. DON'T MISS HOT WEATHER FORECAST: 'INTENSE HEAT' WARNING AS EUROPE

BAKES [MAPS] EUROPE WARNED OF FLASH FLOODING AS DELUGE STRIKES ALONGSIDE WILDFIRES [FORECAST] SUNNY SPELLS AND SCATTERED SHOWERS AS UK FORECAST REMAINS UNSETTLED [VIDEO] UK long-range

forecast: Hot air from Europe could sweep over the UK (Image: WEATHER OUTLOOK) The forecast said: "Although confidence is very low through this period, a continuation of changeable

conditions is most likely. "Some more settled weather may develop, particularly towards the north and northeast of the UK. "Temperatures are likely to be above average, with the

potential for hotter weather later in the month with rainfall most likely below average." BBC Weather also expected "summer-like" weather to arrive towards the end of August

as high pressure potentially pushes over from the Mediterranean Sea in Europe. UK long-range forecast: The south east of England could bask in highs of nearly 30C (Image: WXCHARTS) The

forecast between Monday, August 16, and Sunday, August 29, said: "High pressure may become more influential in the second half of the month, pushing lows away to the north and allowing

for some warmer, drier, and more summer-like weather. At first, mid-August will likely see a continuation of the unsettled, cooler, and wetter pattern we expect for the first half of the

month. "As high pressure slowly pushes northward from the Mediterranean Sea, low-pressure systems caught in the storm track and driven by the jet stream will be deflected northward too.

UK long-range forecast: High pressure could cause temperatures to soar (Image: WXCHARTS) "Drier weather should spread in from the south, and this will also bring in a warmer, more

tropical air mass to the UK. "Temperatures should trend warmer than normal into late August, with some very warm or hot days possible if high pressure moves overhead for too long.

"If the high does linger overhead, a heatwave may develop as well, but confidence is low on this. "Chances for heat increase later in the month, but high pressure will need to move

into the correct spot for this to pan out."