The UK is bracing for an unusual heatwave as temperatures escalate following a cooler start to May. According to the BBC Weather team, a UK heatwave, as defined by the Met Office, requires at least three consecutive days where the daily maximum temperatures exceed set county-specific thresholds.
These thresholds account for the typical climate variations across the UK, ranging from 25°C in Northern Ireland to 28°C in southern England. This week, regions such as Herefordshire and Worcestershire are forecasted to meet or exceed these heatwave criteria between Friday, May 22, and Sunday, May 24.
While much of the country will experience near-normal temperatures initially, warmer conditions are expected to develop across the east from Wednesday into Thursday. The heat will intensify by Friday, likely making it the warmest day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching up to 28°C in Southeast England and London.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Tony Wisson highlighted the significant shift in weather, stating, “The weather later this week will feel like a marked contrast from recent days, with warm, fine and settled weather for many.”
Despite the warmth enduring through the Bank Holiday weekend, weather conditions may become more unsettled by Friday, moving into Saturday. Showers, cloud cover, and periods of thundery rain are possible. Nonetheless, temperatures are expected to remain warm to very warm, hovering around 26°C across southern regions throughout the weekend and into next week.
The BBC notes that while many areas will enjoy temperatures between 20°C and 26°C over the long weekend, not all regions will experience dry weather.