Next weekend, temperatures in the UK could reach 25C, with the Met Office signaling a heightened likelihood of heatwave conditions over the next three months. Despite an upcoming period of unsettled weather, including rain and showers across the country, conditions are anticipated to improve by the weekend.
Met Office forecaster Craig Snell mentioned the potential for a slight warming trend heading into the weekend. Projections indicate temperatures around 24C for London on Saturday, with the possibility of reaching the low to mid-20s in the South East.
Before the weekend arrives, rain is predicted to move southeastward on Sunday evening, leading to heavy rainfall in northern and western regions along with gusty winds. Showers are expected to follow in Scotland and Northern Ireland, where conditions will turn cooler.
On Monday, a band of rain will persist in southern and eastern England, occasionally intensifying. Elsewhere, the weather will be brighter with sunny intervals interspersed with scattered showers, although it will feel relatively cool for the season.
Tuesday and Wednesday are forecasted to remain cool and breezy, featuring a mix of sunshine and heavy showers, before the likelihood of more widespread rain increases by Thursday.
Mr. Snell emphasized the potential for significantly warmer weather, with temperatures possibly reaching 24C to 25C following a changeable week that may include colder periods. The Met Office projects maximum temperatures ranging from 17C to 18C in southern areas during the working week, climbing to the low 20s in the south over the weekend, while northern regions are expected to see highs in the upper teens.
This warmer spell coincides with the Met Office’s three-month summer outlook for June to August, indicating an elevated chance of a hot summer and the development of heatwave conditions at times. The UK experienced its hottest May temperature on record, with England and Wales having their warmest spring. A climate attribution study by Met Office scientists last summer revealed a significant increase in the likelihood of surpassing temperature records due to the climate crisis.
The study highlighted that breaking previous temperature records is now around three times more likely in today’s climate compared to a natural climate unaffected by greenhouse gas emissions. An event that was considered a one-in-100-year occurrence is now estimated to happen roughly once every 33 years.