It might have been raining on King Charles III's parade but the UK has been told to prepare for a sweltering heatwave in a just a few weeks. Much of the Continent has been roasting over the last month and that same heat is about to arrive on our shores.
Temperatures are forecast to hit 25C over the second half of May as the country feels the effects of the unseasonably hot weather that has already hit Europe, particularly Spain. The province of Cordoba has already seen a record high of 38.8C for the time of year which has left some worried for what is to come this summer.
This heat plume started over northern Africa and spread into Europe across Iberia. British Weather Services’ senior meteorological consultant Jim Dale predicts that temperatures could soon hit the mid-20Cs.
He told The Mirror: “On the balance of things, I reckon a heatwave of some description is overdue and the second half of May is more likely than not to deliver a day or two with 25C in the UK. But, there's still lots of water to go under the bridge before then."
The Met Office, however, is not as optimistic. It claims temperatures are expected to be average next week and also for later in the month.
Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern said: “Through next week fairly typical weather for the UK for the time of year. Outbreaks of rain at times, followed by showers but interspersed by sunny spells and it will feel pleasant enough in the sunny spells.
"But the main signal for temperatures is that those temperatures will be at or around average of the time of year. By the end of next week higher pressure could influence things a bit more to bring more settled weather for a time and nothing particularly settled or unsettled is flagged for the middle of May onwards.
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"Next week is looking fairly average, fairly typical for the time of year, there will be some showers at times but also some warm sunshine and temperatures will be around average after a fairly showery Bank Holiday weekend."
