The UK is expected to experience a potential heatwave next week, following a period of cold and rainy weather, according to forecasters at the Met Office. Temperatures are set to rise across the country, with the east and south east of England likely to face a heatwave over the weekend of June 20 and 21. Weather maps are indicating that temperatures could exceed 30C starting from Thursday, June 18.
In a statement on the Met Office YouTube channel, forecaster Alex Burkill mentioned that warmer weather is anticipated this weekend, with even hotter conditions expected the following weekend. Burkill highlighted the possibility of another heatwave by the end of next week and into the weekend, with temperatures potentially reaching the high 20s and low 30s, or even hotter.
The upcoming weekend and early next week are forecasted to bring sunny spells across most of the UK, with dry and warm conditions expected on Monday. However, rain is predicted to move into the northwest from Tuesday onwards. From Wednesday to Friday, temperatures are likely to be above average in many areas, particularly in the southeast where it could be very warm or hot at times.
Temperatures are projected to reach the high 20s starting from Thursday, June 18, potentially leading some parts of the UK into a heatwave. Burkill noted that temperatures could rise further towards the weekend, possibly exceeding the heatwave threshold in certain regions.
Officially, a heatwave in the UK is recognized by the Met Office when a location experiences at least three consecutive days of maximum temperatures meeting or surpassing a specific threshold. For the east and south east of the UK, this threshold is 27C, while it is 28C for London.
Looking ahead, the Met Office long-range forecast indicates that above-normal temperatures are expected for the last two weeks of June and into July. From June 17 to June 26, temperatures are predicted to remain higher than usual in most areas, especially in the southeast. The outlook for June 27 to July 11 suggests that temperatures are likely to stay above normal, with potential for hot conditions, particularly in the south.