Temperatures may reach 25C over the upcoming weekend, with the Met Office cautioning about a heightened possibility of heatwave conditions in the next three months.
While the UK prepares for a period of unstable weather, including rain and showers moving across the country in the following days, conditions are anticipated to improve by the weekend.
Met Office forecaster Craig Snell mentioned the likelihood of a temperature rise heading into the weekend. Projections hint at temperatures around 24C for London on Saturday, with the potential for low to mid-20s in the South East.
Before the weekend, rainfall is predicted to move southeastward on Sunday evening, becoming heavy in some northern and western regions, accompanied by strong winds. Showers are expected to follow in Scotland and Northern Ireland, where conditions will turn cooler.
On Monday, a band of rain is forecasted to continue its path across southern and eastern England, occasionally intensifying. Elsewhere, there will be periods of sunshine interspersed with scattered showers, though it will feel relatively cool for the season.
Tuesday and Wednesday are likely to remain cool and blustery, with a mix of sunshine and heavy showers, before a potential return of widespread rain on Thursday.
Mr. Snell indicated that after a changeable week with possible cold spells, even temperatures of 24C to 25C could feel significantly warmer.
According to the Met Office, maximum temperatures for the working week are expected to range between 17C and 18C in southern areas and between 15C and 16C in the north. By the weekend, temperatures are anticipated to climb into the low 20s in the south, with a possibility of 24C or 25C in the South East, while northern regions may experience highs in the upper teens.
The outlook for a warmer spell aligns with the Met Office’s three-month summer forecast for June to August, indicating an increased likelihood of a hot summer and potential heatwave conditions. England and Wales have recently witnessed their warmest spring on record, with the UK registering its highest May temperature ever at 35.1C in London’s Kew Gardens.
A climate attribution study published by Met Office scientists last summer highlighted the increased probability of surpassing temperature records due to the climate crisis. Breaking the previous May temperature record is now around three times more probable in today’s climate than in a natural environment unaffected by greenhouse gas emissions. An event that was once considered a one-in-100-year occurrence is now estimated to happen approximately once every 33 years.
