As a heatwave descends on the country, people in the North East should prepare for temperatures hotter than anything else we have seen this summer. 

Today (July 19), the weather will be largely dry with bright or sunny spells for many.

It will be cloudier in the far north and west of the region, with the cloud thick enough to perhaps give the odd spot of light rain over the Pennines, according to the Met Office.

It should feel very warm, with light winds, and a maximum temperature 28 °C.

This evening will see a fine end to the day, with some sunshine.

It is due to stay dry overnight and into the weekend, with clear spells, though it will be cloudier in the west, with some hill fog.

Generally, it is due to be a warm night, with light winds, and a minimum temperature 11 °C.

On Saturday, the weather will be largely dry with hazy sunshine, less warm than Friday.

It will turn increasingly cloudy, with outbreaks of rain, locally heavy and thundery, arriving from the west by evening, spreading erratically eastwards overnight. Maximum temperature 24 °C.

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Hour by hour forecast (based on a Darlington location). 

8.00: 19°C, <5% chance of rain. 

9.00: 20°C, <5% chance of rain. 

10.00: 22°C, <5% chance of rain. 

11.00: 24°C, <5% chance of rain. 

12.00: 25°C, <5% chance of rain. 

13.00: 25°C, <5% chance of rain. 

14.00: 26°C, <5% chance of rain. 

15.00: 26°C, <5% chance of rain. 

16.00: 26°C, <5% chance of rain. 

17.00: 26°C, <5% chance of rain. 

18.00: 25°C, <5% chance of rain. 

19.00: 24°C, <5% chance of rain. 

20.00: 23°C, <5% chance of rain. 

21.00: 20°C, <5% chance of rain. 

22.00: 19°C, <5% chance of rain. 

23.00: 18°C, <5% chance of rain.