The Met Office has issued a forecast indicating that the United Kingdom could experience a prolonged period of warmer weather starting this weekend, with the potential for a second heatwave in 2026. Temperatures are expected to rise significantly, possibly reaching 29 degrees Celsius or higher in some areas.
Greater Manchester Forecast
Greater Manchester is predicted to see highs of 26 degrees Celsius this weekend, according to the latest weather maps. The region will enjoy a spell of 'distinctly warmer and drier' conditions, following a May bank holiday heatwave that broke historical temperature records.
Previous Heatwave Records
During the May bank holiday, a high of 35.1 degrees Celsius was officially recorded at Kew Gardens in London, surpassing a national May record that had stood since 1944. This spike prompted authorities to issue the year's first amber and yellow heat-health alerts.
Deputy Chief Meteorologist Steven Keates commented: 'From this weekend the UK forecast will have a distinctly warmer and drier component with a prolonged spell of above-average temperatures, with values in some locations quite likely to reach 27 to 29 degrees Celsius, with the potential for higher values than this.' Forecasters anticipate that this spell will last well into the following week at least.
Grahame Madge, a Met Office spokesman, added: 'From the weekend, the forecast shows a return to more settled conditions for much of the UK. Temperatures in the North West are expected to reach 26 degrees Celsius and this spell is expected to last at least a few days. Whether the conditions reach heatwave thresholds is still in the balance, but that should not detract attention away from what will be a fine spell for many.'
Week Leading Up to the Weekend
In the run-up to the weekend, temperatures in Greater Manchester are forecast to remain in the mid to high teens. Monday, June 8, will see a high of 16 degrees Celsius, followed by 14 and 15 degrees Celsius on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 9 and 10. Thursday, June 11, will reach 16 degrees Celsius, before rising to 19 degrees Celsius on Thursday, June 12, and 22 degrees Celsius on Saturday, June 13.
Long Range Forecast
The long-range forecast, covering the period between June 12 and 21, warns of 'unsettled' weather conditions. The Met Office states: 'Probably remaining fairly unsettled early in this period with Atlantic low pressure systems passing to the north and west of the UK. These will bring showers or longer spells of rain at times. The wettest conditions will be in the northwest, with more in the way of drier interludes in the southeast. Strong winds may affect parts of the UK at times, especially the northwest.'
Higher pressure and more settled conditions will likely become more established through the period, initially in the east or southeast, but perhaps becoming more widespread. There will probably still be some showers or longer spells of rain at times. Temperatures are likely to be near or a little above normal overall.
