RIGA, June 25 (LETA) - A heat wave is expected in Latvia this weekend, according to forecasts from the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Center.

On Thursday, skies will be cloudy, though the sun will peek through in some areas. In the afternoon and evening, clouds in the eastern regions will bring brief showers. Overnight, temperatures will drop to 10-14 degrees C, though it will be slightly warmer along the coast. During the day, temperatures will rise to 21-26 degrees C.

Friday will be even warmer. The sun will alternate with clouds, though there will be fewer clouds during the day in the western and central regions of the country. At night, brief showers are expected in some areas, while thunderstorms and heavy downpours are also possible in the central and eastern regions.

Overnight, temperatures will drop to between 13 and 18 degrees C, but during the day, they will rise to between 20 and 25 degrees C across most of the country. In some parts of Kurzeme, temperatures will reach as high as 28 degrees C.

Over the weekend, a mass of hot air will move in from Western Europe, and temperatures in many places will reach and even exceed 30 degrees C.

For most of the coming week, weather conditions across the country will be determined by a high-pressure system, so days will be mostly sunny and dry.

However, toward the end of the month, following the hottest days, thunderstorms will develop in many areas, bringing heavier precipitation. The intense heat will subside in early July, though temperatures will remain summery and warm.