After an underwhelming start to summer, Southampton could finally be set for a heatwave with temperatures set to match the Italian capital next week.

Forecasters are predicting a heatwave across the country next week, with a North African plume likely to sweep across the UK before the start of July, with temperatures peaking as high as 29 degrees Celsius in more northern areas.

Though Southampton is unlikely to benefit from the hottest temperatures, highs of 24 degrees Celsius are set to be recorded next week according to BBC Weather – the same as Rome in Italy and the Algarve in Portugal.

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The highs of 24 degrees Celsius are set to be recorded on Wednesday, June 26, with highs of 22 and 23 degrees Celsius anticipated for the rest of the week, with sun and gentle breeze forecast.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said: “It’s increasingly likely that a drier, warmer, and settled spell will begin to develop later this coming weekend, and into the following week.

“There is a small chance that this could persist for much of the rest of the period, turning increasingly hot.”