THE UK is set to record one of this year's hottest days so far as parts of the region will be as hot as California.

The Met Office said temperatures in the North-East and North Yorkshire will today (May 20) reach as high as 25 degrees.

It is expected today's heat wave will peak between 3pm and 5pm, although much of the region has reported warm weather since the early hours.

The Northern Echo:

The Met Office, which estimates a temperature of between 24 and 25 degrees in Los Angeles, said parts of the UK could rise as high as 27 degrees later today.

Here's how hot it will be in your area:

Newcastle - 24 degrees

Gateshead - 24 degrees

Sunderland - 20 degrees

South Shields - 21 degrees

Chester-le-Street - 24 degrees

Durham - 24 degrees

Darlington - 24 degrees

Newton Aycliffe - 24 degrees

Bishop Auckland - 24 degrees

Peterlee - 21 degrees

Consett - 22 degrees

Stanley - 23 degrees

Middlesbrough - 25 degrees

Stockton - 25 degrees

Redcar - 24 degrees

Northallerton - 25 degrees

Thirsk - 25 degrees

Whitby - 24 degrees

Malton - 24 degrees 

Scarborough - 20 degrees

Correct as of 9:40am on May 20

'Hottest day of the year'

Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill said: "But Wednesday could be the hottest day of the year so far, with the temperature potentially reaching a high of 27C (80.6F).

"Large swathes of the UK will be dry and sunny for all, as warm air moves in from the south."