The Met Office has warned the UK's current wave of sunshine could end as early as this weekend as Storm Oscar sweeps its way through Europe. The storm, which has been named by the Spanish meteorological service, is bringing heavy rain to parts of the Canary Islands and will soon bring a wave of low pressure to the UK.
From the Canaries, the storm is set to move northwards, racing across the Atlantic Ocean and marking an end to the weeks of sunny weather seen recently. While the rest of the UK is unlikely to see rain as a result of this wave of low pressure, the South West could see thunderstorms as a result.
Posting to Twitter, the Met Office said: "Storm Oscar is currently bringing heavy rain to parts of the Canaries. This area of low pressure will move northwards, leading to a change with our weather this weekend. Increasing heat and humidity drawn up from the near continent will lead to heavy showers and thunderstorms."
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The low pressure system will hit the high pressure system currently bringing sun and heat to the UK but, instead of rain, parts of the UK could see temperatures hitting almost 30C this week.
Graham Madge, a spokesman for the Met Office told the Mirror: “Currently in the UK we have a very large area of high pressure which is very dense descending air, and that’s what’s giving us our largely fine conditions that we’re having at the moment.
“Storm Oscar will be working its way north and will push against that area of high pressure but its progress will be slowed. The high pressure is very dense air and it's difficult to budge it effectively.”
Mr Madge continued: “The main influence that Storm Oscar will have is not necessarily winds or rain. The way the area of low pressure is circulating means that as it draws closer to the UK, it will be pulling up a feed of warmer air coming in from continental Europe which will raise our temperatures.”
Parts of the UK could approach 28C, even 29C by the end of this week”. Meanwhile, here in the South West, the Met Office forecasts a risk of thunderstorms. Bristol is set to see rain on Saturday, after reaching highs of 24C earlier on in the week. According to the forecaster, Saturday is when we could expect to see thundery showers.
Met Office South West Forecast
Wednesday: Any cloud will quickly clear through the morning to leave a warm day with clear skies and plenty of sunshine. A breezy day, particularly around southern coasts. Maximum temperature 22 °C.
Outlook for Thursday to Saturday: Rather breezy at times, especially around coasts, particularly on Thursday. Then largely dry though turning cloudier on Friday with a risk of thundery showers on Saturday.
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