The UK is set to be hotter than Sicily next week and we're ready for it

Bring on the sunshine

It's already May and we've only had a handful of sunny days here in the UK. While we all get very excited about it and convince ourselves that 'summer is here' (it's not), it lasts a day before the greyness returns. Ah, if only we could jet off somewhere hot and sunny.

Well, we might be in luck. According to the Met Office, Britain is set to be hotter than Sicily next week. That's right - we could see 18 degrees celsius here in the UK, while the Italian region will be looking at something closer to 14 degrees celsius. So an early summer could be upon us after all.

But - yes, there's a but - before we get there we'll probably see some very showery days and chilly nights.

Nicola Maxey, a spokesperson for the Met Office, told The Sun: 'As we go through to the end of the week we will start to see temperatures begin to edge up although there will still be the risk of showers and some heavy, thundery outbreaks.

'Saturday will be a fine and dry although it will be cold overnight with the risk of frosts quite widely as temperatures dip to -4C or -5C.

'High pressure builds into Sunday and this will deflect any low pressure systems to the north of the UK where there will be a chance of further heavy rain and strong winds. Temperatures will continue to rise through next week and we could see 19C widely across the south with highs of up to 23C possible.

'With high pressure we expect blue skies and sunshine and thereafter the rest of May is looking largely dry with temperatures around where they should be for the time of year.'

Exacta Weather forecaster James Madden has predicted that in the next month, we'll see things heating up with temperatures edging closer to 30 degrees celsius.

'There is the potential for an early switch to summer-like weather this year after the unsettled and cooler start to May,' he told The Sun.

'This is most likely from around mid-month and possibly slightly earlier across southern regions.

'Most if not all of the country can look forward to several lengthy and widespread periods of warm weather with ample wall-to-wall sunshine from mid-May onwards bringing an early taste of summer.'

Apparently, it's all part of the run up to 'flaming June' which will see temperatures soar to the late 20s.

Warm weekends, we're ready for you.