Britons could be set for a taste of summer within days as temperatures climb towards 25C, with the Met Office saying the chances of a hotter-than-normal summer are higher than usual. While the Met Office’s longer-term outlook says the chance of a hot summer is higher than normal and could increase the risk of heatwaves, it is not forecasting one in the coming days.
The UK will first have to contend with a spell of unsettled weather before conditions improve towards next weekend. Met Office forecaster Craig Snell has reassured that there are signs of a warmer spell developing later in the week. He said: “There are hints as we go into the weekend we may well see a slight warming up. It’s hinting at 24C for London on Saturday, at least into the low 20s, maybe mid-20s across the South East.” Before then, the weather is expected to remain changeable, with a band of rain spreading eastwards on Monday, followed by sunshine and scattered showers on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Another band of rain is forecast to move across the country during Thursday, while Friday is expected to bring a mix of sunshine and showers.
By next weekend, higher pressure is expected to build across southern parts of the UK, although it could take longer for conditions to settle in the north.
In Manchester, the Met Office is forecasting cloudy skies and temperatures reaching 20C on Saturday.
Mr Snell said: “After quite a bit of a changeable week with some potential cold periods, when it settles down even 24C, 25C could potentially feel markedly warmer.”
According to the Met Office, temperatures during the working week are expected to range between 17C and 18C across southern areas and between 15C and 16C in the north.
By the weekend, temperatures are forecast to climb into the low 20s across southern Britain, with the South East potentially reaching 24C or 25C, while northern areas are expected to see highs in the upper teens.
The Met Office is also monitoring the bands of rain expected to arrive on Monday and Thursday but is not currently anticipating issuing any weather warnings.
The warmer spell follows the Met Office’s three-month summer outlook, which said the chance of a hot summer is higher than normal.
The forecaster said that could increase the risk of heatwaves over the coming months, after England and Wales experienced their warmest spring on record and the UK recorded its hottest May temperature to date.
