Temperatures could soon soar to 26C in some parts of the UK, according to weather forecasting maps.

The data reveals as many as 74 counties across England, Scotland and Wales will see temperatures climb to or above 20C at the start of May. Temperatures in Northern Ireland are only expected to reach 19C.

The GFS weather model indicates temperatures will begin rising on 4 May, hitting 21C and 22C across large swathes of southern and central England. North Wales could also see highs of 21C at around 6pm.

The mercury is expected to keep climbing throughout the week, reaching 24C in the south-east on 5 May as London gets the best of the heat. A few places in Scotland could hit 20C at 6pm, with highs of 23C possible in Wales.

The warmest day will be 6 May, according to the GFS model data, with highs of 26C in and around London. The Midlands, Yorkshire and East Anglia could all see highs of 24C or 25C. Temperatures are expected to be several notches cooler in Northern Ireland and Scotland, however, reports the Mirror.

In total, the maps show 74 counties or county boroughs could see highs of 20C or above across this three-day period. The south-east of England will experience the hottest temperatures.

England

Bedfordshire

Berkshire

Bristol

Buckinghamshire

Cambridgeshire

Cheshire

City of London

Cornwall

County Durham

Cumbria

Derbyshire

Devon

Dorset

East Riding of Yorkshire

East Sussex

Essex

Gloucestershire

Greater London

Greater Manchester

Hampshire

Herefordshire

Hertfordshire

Isle of Wight

Kent

Lancashire

Leicestershire

Lincolnshire

Merseyside

Norfolk

North Yorkshire

Northamptonshire

Northumberland

Nottinghamshire

Oxfordshire

Rutland

Shropshire

Somerset

South Yorkshire

Staffordshire

Suffolk

Surrey

Tyne and Wear

Warwickshire

West Midlands

West Sussex

West Yorkshire

Wiltshire

Worcestershire

Wales

Gwynedd

Conwy

Denbighshire

Flintshire

Wrexham

Powys

Ceredigion

Pembrokeshire

Carmarthenshire

Swansea

Neath Port Talbot

Bridgend

Vale of Glamorgan

Cardiff

Rhondda Cynon Taf

Merthyr Tydfil

Caerphilly

Blaenau Gwent

Torfaen

Monmouthshire

Newport

Scotland

Roxburghshire

Kirkcudbrightshire

Morayshire

Banffshire

Despite the scorching conditions, this warm spell at the beginning of May is not anticipated to constitute an official heatwave. An official heatwave is declared when temperatures reach or exceed the heatwave threshold for three consecutive days.

The heatwave threshold ranges from 25C to 28C across the UK. It stands at 28C in the south-east of England where temperatures tend to be higher, dropping to 25C the further north you travel.