Met Office verdict as 10 day scorcher set to swamp Britain from this weekend
Monday afternoon weather: Some showers and feeling cooler
The Met Office says a “high pressure ridge” will propel temperatures into the early 20s, starting from this weekend. Long range weather maps show the mercury heating up from this Friday for many, with highs of 22C expected. Fine, dry and settled conditions, in what many will feel is a first slice of summer, are set to remain for 10 days, specifically across southern and central England. But forecasters are predicting the warm weather is set to accelerate past May and into June, with highs potentially hitting 35C.
While it is too early for specific forecasts, the Met Office has confirmed warmer weather is on the way. Its long-range forecast from May 19 to 28 says: “Into the weekend a high-pressure ridge is most likely to extend across the UK, resulting in a good amount of fine and dry weather for most.
“Into the next week a continuation of these settled conditions is expected, with fine and dry weather for many. The greatest chance of rain or showers is for the far northwest and southeast.
“Winds staying generally light, although possibly a bit stronger in the far south, southeast and northwest. Temperatures most likely above average overall, although most likely closer to average in the southeast.”
With warm weather sweeping across Europe, an “African plume” is set to bring hot weather from June, which is when official meteorological summer begins.
James Madden, from Exacta Weather, said: “A number of African plumes are also likely from later in August and into September, and very early indications and some strong indicators are for a warm to hot September this year.
“The peak of these heat surges in June and July could see maximum temperatures ranging in the low to mid 30s, and the late summer/August heatwave could sign off summer 2023 with temperatures ranging a notch or two higher than this.”
Drier weather is expected this week, with highs of 22C hitting parts of the UK this weekend. The Met Office have confirmed temperatures in June will be “above average” for this time of year.
For the period from May 27 to June 10 it says: “A north-south split is the most likely scenario through the bulk of this period, with further spells of rain most likely affecting southern areas, whilst northern areas are more likely to be drier than average overall.
“That said, the drier conditions in the north could well extend countrywide; the confidence in the boundary between the two regimes is very low. Temperatures will most probably remain above average, although tempered along North Sea coasts.”
The series of heatwaves last summer brought England its joint-hottest summer since records began in 1884, with mean temperatures on a par with the 2018 record, as the mercury broke the 40C barrier for the first time ever.
The conditions saw the Met Office issue its first-ever red warning for extreme heat and the government declare a national heatwave emergency for the first time.
According to the Met Office, the Sahara Desert is among the main sources of air masses which affect the UK, being one of the Earth’s “source regions” where large masses of air can stagnate and gradually gain heat from the ground underneath.
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