Saharan dust cloud & Spain wildfire smoke blanket UK in Met Office satellite map – as temps to hit 30C this weekend
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BRITAIN'S skies are not as bright blue today - and the Met Office has revealed the reason why, though there's a potential bonus coming.
It's thanks to smoke from wildfires in Spain and Portugal, as well as Saharan dust that's "drifted over the UK".
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The beach at Lyme Regis, Dorset, was backed out on Friday
Credit: Alamy
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Satellite images from the Met Office show the UK covered in cloud and dust
Credit: X/@metoffice
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Brits can expect some spectacular sunsets thanks to the Saharan dust cloud
Credit: X/@Theelephanthse
But there is a potential upside - the national weather agency said Brits can expect "enhanced sunsets and sunrises in the coming days", adding: "Deeper reds and oranges thanks to light scattering."
It comes as thousands of people are expected to flock to beaches across this weekend with forecasts of up to 29C on Sunday.
As Brits head into Saturday evening, the forecaster predicts it will be a mainly dry night with the clearest skies appearing in the west.
While most parts of the UK will remain dry, it's expected that some light rain will fall across the Shetland Islands.
Cloud will build up across central and eastern areas, but will be less extensive than Friday night.
Winds in the southwest will remain strong across some parts.
Low cloud will gradually retreat towards the North Sea coastal areas as Sunday day gets underway, leaving most places to bask in plenty of sunshine.
The strong winds in the southwest though will continue.
While it will be very warm once again for most people, it will feel fresher along the eastern coast.
Looking further ahead into Monday and the early part of the working week it looks to be more of the same.
Little-known iPhone trick helps you dodge surprise rain with last-minute warning
Any early morning cloud in the east will break up, giving way to sunny spells.
Western parts could see some showers but it will be the warmest part of the country with winds easing off.
Yellow warnings have been put in place for various areas of the country by the UK Health Security Agency.
This includes Yorkshire and the Humber, the East and West Midlands, London and the South East, the South West and the east of England.
Heat health alerts have also been extended into next week for much of England.
The hot weather has resulted in a surge of vehicle breakdowns, the RAC reports.
They have received 10 per cent more call outs this week when compared to the same period of Monday to Thursday last week.
The yellow warnings are set to remain in place until 6pm on Monday, August 18.
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Bournemouth beach in Dorset was also packed out on Friday
Credit: BNPS
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