Wales could be hit with its first 'soft heatwave' of the year as temperatures are expected to rise later this week. A senior meteorologist believes that temperatures could reach the mid twenties in the UK from April 15.
Speaking to The Express, Jim Dale, the British Weather Services' senior meteorologist, said: "We do get heatwaves in April, it does happen. It'll be a soft heatwave for the second half of April, it could get somewhere in the mid-20s pushing to May, in that general direction.
"I can't be overly detailed at the moment, but the signs are there for this kind of change - it's when you see the charts going in that direction. The only thing we have to work with is unpredictability - but it is certainly going that way at the moment."
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It seems that warmer temperatures could be on the way for Wales, with BBC weather presenter Derek Brockway promising spring-like weather next week. In a tweet, the presenter wrote: "More like winter on Wednesday. But more like spring next week with sunshine and much warmer with afternoon temperatures in the mid to high teens."
'Above average' temperatures have also been predicted for the end of the month in the Met Office's long range forecast. Showery weather has been predicted for the rest of the week, with "heavy rain and strong winds" as well as "the risk of severe gales at times" predicted for Wales on Tuesday.
Between Wednesday and Friday, "wet and windy weather" and "sunny spells and showers" have been predicted for the country. However, the long range forecast suggests that warmer weather is on the way in the next fortnight. The forecast between April 15 and 24 reads: "Saturday likely dry for many with light winds and some sunny spells, although it may be cloudier with some rain or drizzle across the southeast at first.
"Perhaps becoming cloudier from the southwest during the day with rain possible later. A chilly start probable, with some frost and a few fog patches in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland, then daytime temps warming to around normal.
"A west-east split then develops over the next few days, with rain or showers mostly focussed on the northwest, although moving towards the southeast at times. Later in the period, a trend towards less unsettled weather more widely is likely, but especially across the south and east. Most likely feeling warm in the sunshine by day, but chilly nights still possible."
Towards the end of the month, the Met Office predicts that the UK will experience above average temperatures for this time of year. The forecast for April 25 to May 9 reads: "Confidence in the forecast is fairly low for the end of April and early May.
"In general, there is a greater chance of more settled weather dominating during this period, maintaining the likelihood of morning fog patches and late season night frosts. However, there is also a chance of seeing some unsettled or changeable spells of weather too. Temperatures are most likely to be above average overall for the time of year."
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