Met Office weekend forecast for Greater Manchester as sunshine could make way for thunderstorms and showers

Get the barbecue out and stock up on the sun cream, it looks like we're in for another warm weekend. But if you are planning on dining al fresco make sure you time it right, as there's also the chance of thunderstorms and showers.

Greater Manchester looks set to bask in temperatures in the mid 20s for much of the weekend, according to Met Office forecasters. But it starts off a bit cooler and cloudier today (Friday) with a maximum of 21C.

And there's a good chances we'll get some light and occasionally heavy showers from late afternoon into the evening. After a cloudy start tomorrow morning (Saturday) the temperatures start to pick up again, reaching a high of 26C by late afternoon.

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But the bad news for hay fever suffers is that the pollen count is expected to be 'very high'. Moving into Sunday it's going to be just as warm throughout the day, but there's a 60 per cent of a thunderstorm around 4pm, with light showers expected for much of the evening.

Looking further afield the Met Office said a 'northwest/southeast split' would develop in the UK's weather in the coming days 'with the possibility of heatwave criteria being met in the south and east, but with some heavy rain further north and west'.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Chris Almond said: "After some thundery showers in central and eastern England on Thursday, the UK is transitioning to a more typical weather pattern through the weekend, with high pressure to the south and the influence of low pressure further north and west, albeit with some very warm or hot air in the south and east at first.

"Official heatwave criteria could be met for parts of southern and eastern England,