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The UK is on the verge of a 22C scorcher with 21 counties across Britain set to bask in gorgeous early May sunshine, according to weather charts. Much of Britain is currently experiencing a warm, sunny spell, and conditions are expected to improve further, weather maps suggest.

Brits can finally dust off their sunglasses and sunhats as weather maps predict the upcoming May bank holiday will be sun-filled and the mercury will be sent soaring. WXCHARTS weather maps, generated on April 23 using Met Desk data, have turned yellow and orange, indicating that soon temperatures may hit 20C and over in places. The warm spell is expected to start at 12pm on Sunday, May 3, with the highest temperatures concentrated in the southeast, particularly around London, Kent, and Surrey.

Southern England will see highs of 20C, while the Midlands will enjoy highs of 19C as will Yorkshire and the Humber, the maps suggest.

Large swathes of the southwest will see the mercury reach 18C, particularly Bath, Somerset and Bristol, according to the maps.

By 6pm on May 3, the mercury will have risen even further, according to the maps, with those in the capital set to enjoy a sunny afternoon with highs of 22C, while Surrey will be a toasty 21C.

For those in Essex and Kent, the mercury could reach a warm 20C. The mercury could hover between 19C and 20C in Wiltshire, Berkshire, Bristol, Gloucester and Hampshire.

The Midlands may also enjoy some warm weather, according to the maps, with 20C possible, and even parts of west Yorkshire could see sunny weather, with Leeds likely to see highs of 20C.

However, those in northern England will miss out on the sunshine with the mercury only expected to reach 14C, in Scotland lows of 10C are possible, the maps suggest.

In Wales, the southern areas will see the warmest of the weather with 18C possible, while in west Wales the merculy will only reach 13C, the maps suggest.

Fast forward 24 hours to 6pm on May 4 and the warm weather will still be hanging around for millions across the country. In the southwest, it will be glorious 20C on bank holiday Monday, whilst the Midlands will see be around 19C, the maps suggest.

However, Scotland will only see temperatures reach 4C, and in Wales the mercury will hover at around 13C, according to the maps.

Separately, the Met Office long-range forecast, which looks at the dates between April 28 to May 7, read: "High pressure is likely to remain centred close to or over the UK through the remainder of April and into early May. This means a continuation of the predominantly dry conditions, likely with a mixture of some cloudier spells and sunnier days. For the most part, rain-bearing weather systems should be kept at bay, though the far west and northwest may seeing a little rain at times, although late in the period perhaps an increasing chance of these coming closer into the UK. Winds will be mostly light, but may be fresher around the coasts at times. For most, temperatures will continue above normal, though it will feel cooler along windward coasts in particular."

• Greater London

• Kent

• Surrey

• East Sussex

• West Sussex

• Essex

• Hampshire

• Berkshire

• Oxfordshire

• Buckinghamshire

• Hertfordshire

• Bedfordshire

• Cambridgeshire

• Suffolk

• Norfolk

• Northamptonshire

• Warwickshire

• Leicestershire

• Gloucestershire

• Somerset

• Dorset