(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
The North East is set for a heatwave with temperatures expected to rise rapidly through the morning before reaching around 30C today.
The Met Office says conditions will be dry with strong sunshine, although high-level cloud will make skies hazy at times.
Temperatures will climb quickly, reaching the mid-20s around lunchtime before peaking at 30C between 4pm and 6pm.
Winds will also ease throughout the morning, dropping from around 10mph to below 10mph during the afternoon and becoming lighter into the evening.
The Met Office says: "Dry and sunny, hazy skies at times."
"Dry with strong sunshine, temperatures rising rapidly during the morning. High level cloud will make the skies a little hazy initially just across Northumberland but later elsewhere. Feeling very warm and locally hot. Gusty winds easing during the morning. Maximum temperature 29 °C."
The warm conditions will continue into the evening, with temperatures remaining at 24C at 9pm before falling to around 21C by 11pm.
The hot weather comes as people across the UK prepare to watch a rare partial solar eclipse.
The Moon will pass in front of the Sun this evening, with the eclipse visible across the UK.
In the North East, it is expected to begin shortly after 6pm, reach its peak at around 7.10pm and finish at around 8pm.
The Met Office says skies will be bright but hazy during the evening, potentially providing favourable conditions for eclipse watchers where cloud does not get in the way.
It says: "High level cloud will lead to a bright but hazy evening, with dry conditions persisting overnight. A few clear spells are likely, but another warm night is likely. Minimum temperature 13 °C."
Here is your hour-by-hour forecast for Darlington today amid the sunny weather:
7am: Sunny, 15C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 9mph winds.
8am: Sunny, 16C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 9mph winds.
9am: Sunny, 19C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 10mph winds.
10am: Sunny, 20C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 9mph winds.
11am: Sunny, 23C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 9mph winds.
12pm: Sunny, 25C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 9mph winds.
1pm: Sunny, 26C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 9mph winds.
2pm: Sunny, 28C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 9mph winds.
3pm: Sunny, 29C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 9mph winds.
4pm: Sunny, 30C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 8mph winds.
5pm: Sunny, 30C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 8mph winds.
6pm: Sunny and hazy, 30C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 7mph winds.
7pm: Sunny and hazy, 29C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 6mph winds.
8pm: Bright and hazy, 27C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 5mph winds.
READ MORE:
- Heatwave LIVE- County Durham to brace for 30C as temperatures soar across the North East
- Darlington as hot as Tenerife this week as highs of 33C hit
- Here's what the Met Office says about Darlington's weekend weather
9pm: Bright and hazy, 24C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 6mph winds.
10pm: Clear spells, 22C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 6mph winds.
11pm: Clear spells, 21C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 6mph winds.