When is the heatwave due to end?

The Met Office's red heat warning is set to last until midnight today (Thursday), with overnight temperatures not set to drop below 20 degrees in many areas. However, the end is in sight.

The Met Office said: "Thursday will see the peak of the heat for many, though those further east will retain extreme heat on Friday and Saturday and could continue to see further impacts, which has resulted in Amber warnings. The far southeast will retain the warmth the longest, though there should be a climb-down in figures by Saturday, with peaks around 32 degrees likely. Next week is likely to see a change to more of a westerly influence on the UK's weather, with a return to more average temperatures for the time of year and a mixture of winds and rain, particularly for those in the North West."

Meanwhile, some areas are expected to see heavy rain and storms on Friday. Wales will see the worst of the rain, with heavy downpours hitting Cardiff from 2am, and moving northwards into England until about 6am. In Scotland, a band of rain will strike through the centre and over Fort William at 2.15am before sweeping northwards. By 6.30am on Friday, the south of Scotland will have heavy showers over Edinburgh and sweeping up over Glasgow and Aberdeen.

It will also be a wet night in England, with showers moving over the West Country overnight and reaching up to Liverpool and settling over Northumberland at around 6.30am. Belfast could wake up to extremely heavy rain at around 7am.

By 9.30am, the majority of England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be largely dry, though a large band of showers will hang over Scotland. The forecast for Friday is "rather cloudy across northern regions with outbreaks of rain and thunderstorms, accompanied by hail and gusty winds", the Met Office said.