After a dreary start to May, the UK is finally set for summer weather as the Met Office forecasts a mini-heatwave. The forecaster predicts a high-pressure ridge to bring warm weather and sunshine for three whole weeks, giving sun-lovers the chance to spend some quality time out of doors.
Warm weather is expected to hit arrive today (May 19) according to Met Office predictions, and is due to remain in time for the school half-term holiday at the end of May. Most of the UK can expect to see sunny skies during this period, replacing the grey skies and cool temperatures seen recently.
A Met Office spokesperson told The Mirror: "A high-pressure ridge is most likely to extend across the UK, resulting in a good amount of fine and dry weather for most. Temperatures most likely above average overall, although most likely closer to average in the southeast."
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Read more: “Into June, high pressure is predicted to remain dominant, especially for northern areas, with cloud, rain and showers more likely to the south, although there is a level of uncertainty associated with this. An increased likelihood of above average temperatures for many."
The Met Office's long range forecast from May 23 to June 1 reads: "High pressure will dominate over most of the UK through the first half of this period, with settled conditions for most of the country. Exceptions to these settled conditions could develop in the northwest and the southeast, where there may be outbreaks of rain and drizzle at times.
"Winds will be light across the majority of areas but could be stronger at times in the far northwest and southeast. During the second half of this period, high pressure is expected to continue to lie across much of the UK.
"This is likely to extend over the southwest and northeast of the country bringing a return to more settled weather. This will bring a good deal of fine and dry weather for the majority of areas."
Into from June 2, the forecaster predicts: "Largely fine conditions are expected to continue during this period, particularly for the central and northern parts of the UK. There is an increased risk of rain and showers further to the south, especially southeast England, as the period progresses.
"Temperatures are likely to remain a little above normal for this time of year; however, the far southeast of England may be closer to average."
It comes as a scalding African plume is set to cross the UK from June to September this year, the Mirror reports. Temperatures could hit 35C as the phenomenon, characterised by a mass of hot air originating from the Sahara desert, sweeps the nation. This type of weather event has the potential to bring multiple heatwaves; though unprecedented, experts agree it is not impossible, given recent warming climate trends.
Expert Alex Deakin said: "It's going to be a largely dry week across the country and slowly temperatures will be rising just a little bit as well. For the majority, high pressure bringing a largely dry week and temperatures just ticking up a little bit as well.
"It will go from below average to around or perhaps slightly above average temperature wise as we head towards the weekend."
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