A scorching 35C heatwave is set to engulf the UK during the upcoming bank holiday weekend, drawing thousands of beachgoers for what is being dubbed as “May’s fiery flip-flop.”
Following a period of cold weather, the UK is poised to experience an unprecedented heatwave over the late May bank holiday period, according to a weather expert interviewed by the Mirror. Certain regions may witness temperatures 2C to 3C higher than the previous May record on Monday.
The return of intense heat to the UK, described as a resurgence, comes after a significant drop in temperatures earlier in the week, as stated by Jim Dale, a senior meteorologist at British Weather Services. The sudden rise in temperatures is attributed to an African plume displacing an Arctic polar front.
Jim Dale remarked to the Mirror that the anticipated warmest day of the bank holiday weekend is expected to be Bank Holiday Monday, with London potentially hitting a remarkable 35C, nearly 3C above the previous May record. Additionally, several other counties, including Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and others, could also experience 35C temperatures on Monday.
Northern regions of England and parts of Scotland may witness record-breaking temperatures on a local scale, with forecasts predicting temperatures reaching up to 29C. Jim Dale mentioned that the existing record of 32.8C could potentially be surpassed, with models indicating temperatures as high as 34C or 35C, which would be unusually high for this time of year, potentially linked to climate change.
Saturday is projected to be similar to Friday, with the possibility of sporadic thundery showers and temperatures ranging between 24C and 25C in some areas. Sunday could see temperatures rise to 27C to 28C, followed by a significant leap on Bank Holiday Monday, with Tuesday also likely to be exceptionally hot, depending on weather conditions.
The Met Office concurs that the peak heat is anticipated on Monday, with high pressure prevailing across most of the UK, potentially resulting in even sunnier and warmer conditions in cooler regions. This mid-summer-like weather is expected to persist over the weekend, with temperatures exceeding average levels.
An amber heat health alert has been issued for the East of England, indicating a significant risk to health and social care services due to high indoor temperatures exceeding safe levels. The alert, which spans from 2pm on Friday to 5pm on Wednesday, was issued by the UK Health Security Agency.