Temperatures are set to soar to 26°C in parts of East Lancashire today (11 July) with some towns set to be hotter than Santorini in Greece where temperatures are predicted to reach 25°C.

The UK's warm spell will continue for southern and central areas into next week,with only a slight dip in peak temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday, before a possible move back to very high temperatures at the end of the week and over the weekend.  

Deputy Chief Meteorologist David Oliver added: “Weather forecast models are run hundreds of times to determine the most likely weather outcome.

"There are some runs, or solutions, that allow more extreme temperatures to develop into next weekend.

"This is something we are monitoring closely and which will add more detail on over the coming days.”  

Across parts of East Lancashire, temperatures are set to reach highs of 26°C today before turning cooler in the week.

Light rain showers are predicted in Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley and Ribble Valley on Friday.

However, the temperature is set to rise again by the end of the week when the area could see highs of 26°C in parts.

Here is today’s hour-by-hour forecast in Blackburn with Darwen – as well as a detailed outlook to the week ahead:

Monday, July 11, hour-by-hour forecast for Blackburn with Darwen:

Cloudy changing to sunny intervals in the afternoon.

10am: Sunny. 19°C. UV level is moderate.

11am: Cloudy. 22°C. UV level is high.

12pm: Cloudy with sunny intervals. 23°C. UV level is high.

1pm: Cloudy. 24°C. UV level is high.

2pm: Cloudy. 24°C. UV level is high.

3pm: Cloudy with sunny intervals. 24°C. UV level is moderate.

4pm: Cloudy with sunny intervals. 25°C. UV level is moderate.

5pm: Cloudy with sunny intervals. 25°C. UV level is moderate.

6pm: Cloudy with sunny intervals. 25°C. UV level is low.

7pm: Cloudy with sunny intervals. 25°C. UV level is low.

8pm: Cloudy. 25°C. UV level is low.

9pm: Cloudy. 23°C. UV level is low.

10pm: Cloudy. 22°C. UV level is low.

11pm: Cloudy. 21°C. UV level is low.

12am: Cloudy. 21°C. UV level is low.

Weekly weather forecast for Blackburn with Darwen

Tuesday 12 July: Cloudy. Highs of 22°C lows of 12°C.

Wednesday 13 July: Cloudy changing to sunny intervals by lunchtime. Highs of 22°C lows of 10°C.

Thursday 14 July: Cloudy. Highs of 17°C lows of 10°C.

Friday 15 July: Light showers changing to sunny by early evening. Highs of 18°C lows of 10°C.

Saturday 16 July: Cloudy changing to sunny intervals by late morning. Highs of 23°C lows of 15°C.

Sunday 17 July: Sunny intervals changing to cloudy by late morning. Highs of 25°C lows of 14°C.