The United Kingdom is bracing for an exceptionally hot week as scorching temperatures are expected to persist following the arrival of a significant ‘historic’ heat dome over the country, setting the stage for what could be the hottest Bank Holiday on record.
A heatwave was officially announced in eight locations in the southeast of England after meeting the criteria of 27 degrees Celsius for three consecutive days. The situation escalated to the extent that a new heat record for May was established, marked by an official “tropical night.”
Following the record-breaking temperature of 34.8 degrees Celsius at Kew Gardens on May Day, a new milestone for the highest daily minimum temperature in May was achieved as temperatures remained above 21.3 degrees Celsius at Kenley Airfield in south London.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber heat-health alerts for five regions in England, cautioning about the heightened strain on health and social care services. Concerns have been raised about a potential increase in fatalities, particularly among individuals aged 65 and above or those with underlying health issues.
Although temperatures are expected to gradually decrease from midweek onwards, the heat is anticipated to persist. Despite a slight cooling trend, dry weather with sunny intervals will prevail, with many areas still experiencing temperatures in the high 20s Celsius.
For those struggling to sleep, the Met Office projects that the heatwave will persist until Sunday, May 31.
The official threshold for a three-day heatwave is set at 25 degrees Celsius for Scotland, Northern Ireland, much of Wales, and northern England. In contrast, the benchmark for the rest of England and southeast Wales ranges from 26 to 27 degrees Celsius.
According to weather maps from the Met Office, London is forecasted to reach highs of 24 degrees Celsius by 4 pm next Sunday. Meanwhile, temperatures in other parts of England will hover in the early 20s, with readings dropping as low as 18 degrees Celsius in Glasgow and Plymouth.
The Met Office has warned that very high temperatures will persist, with London, the Home Counties, and Cambridgeshire expected to peak at 35 degrees Celsius. Temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius are also anticipated in eastern Wales, southern and central England, away from coastal areas.
Experts have cautioned that non-summer heatwaves may become more frequent, attributing searing spring conditions to climate change triggering extreme weather patterns.
Professor Chris Brierley, a Climate Science expert at University College London, emphasized the likelihood of more frequent heatwaves in May due to global warming, stressing the significant health implications of such extreme heat events.
The current weather pattern indicates another sunny and mostly dry day across England and Wales amid the ongoing heatwave, with a slight chance of isolated heavy, thundery showers in the afternoon. Northern Scotland is expected to experience cooler conditions.
While the east may experience a cooling effect from an onshore breeze, the rest of the region will remain very warm, predominantly dry, with occasional showers possible.
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