More than 30 cities across the UK are set to be hit by a mini-heatwave, with temperatures going up to 26C in places. Weather forecasters WXCharts has predicted the hot weather will arrive in less than a fortnight (June 4), hitting much of England from the Midlands to the south coast.

It will be hottest in the South-east, reaching 26C in London and 25C in Oxford and Reading. The heat will grow throughout the morning, peaking at 1pm and lasting until about 7pm. But it could drop as low as 7C in the north of England and parts of Scotland.

It will be quite windy throughout the day, with gusts reaching 40mph in Manchester, Liverpool, Brighton and Ipswich. The warmer weather will persist for at least nine days, with weather maps beginning to turn red from May 29 to June 6.

The Met Office said of the period: “Changeable conditions are expected across the UK during this period. Atlantic frontal systems are expected to spread in from the west at times bringing showers or longer periods of rain to many areas.

“Some heavy rain is possible and this could be thundery at times. Wettest conditions overall are likely to be in the west and northwest of the UK, with conditions comparatively drier in the sheltered east and southeast. Strong winds may also develop at times, particularly in the north and northwest.

“In between weather systems, some dry interludes are likely with periods of sunshine. Temperatures are expected to be slightly above average overall, but will be cooler in any prolonged periods of rainfall.”

Cities that will see temperatures above 23C:

• Birmingham

• Bradford

• Cambridge

• Canterbury

• Chester

• Coventry

• Derby

• Doncaster

• Gloucester

• Leeds

• Leicester

• Lichfield

• Lincoln

• Liverpool

• London

• Manchester

• Milton Keynes

• Nottingham

• Oxford

• Peterborough

• Preston

• Salford

• Sheffield

• St Albans

• St Asaph

• Stoke-on-Trent

• Wakefield

• Westminster

• Winchester

• Wrexham

• Wolverhampton

• Worcester

• York