YORK is set for a miserable day of rain and wind tomorrow, with temperatures struggling to reach just 15C - as the Med roasts in temperatures as high as 40C.

But weathermen have better news for staycation holidaymakers next week, as high pressure finally looks set to bring warmer and drier weather to southern and central parts of the UK.

Forecasters say heavy rain and showers will affect York and North Yorkshire tomorrow, with freshening winds and thunder and torrential downpours possible.

York's expected maximum temperature of 15 C, or just 59F, contrasts starkly with the 40C maximum, or 104F, expected tomorrow in Malaga, and the 37C (99F) in Rome.

Wednesday and Thursday will be drier and brighter and just a little warmer in York and the Met Office's monthly outlook, published today, says that during the middle part of the month, it looks as though high pressure will sit to the southwest of the UK, bringing more settled weather to the southern half of the UK.

However, weather fronts moving around the northern side of the high will bring rain and strong winds at times further north.