Households across the UK are being urged to put bowls of water on windowsills on Saturday as highs of 23C are forecast. After a period of wet and unsettled weather, the forecast is looking much more promising over the weekend, with Saturday kickstarting a rise in temperatures.
Warmer and drier conditions expected
The Met Office is forecasting warmer and drier conditions as the weekend begins, with sunny and more settled conditions on the cards for many areas of the UK. Conditions are expected to be particularly warm in southern parts of the country, with temperatures of up to 23C forecast on Saturday, June 13. Sunday is expected to be even better, with largely dry conditions and further sunshine for many areas and temperatures hitting up to 24C across southern England.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Greg Wolverson, said: “As we move into the weekend the jet stream temporarily shifts northwards, allowing high pressure to build from the south. This brings a drier and warmer weekend for many. Saturday will see a more settled day of weather across southern areas, with some sunny spells developing. Temperatures here could reach 22-23C. Northern areas may still see some cloud and occasional rain early on, but conditions are expected to improve here too later in the day.”
Simple and cost-effective cooling solution
With warm weather on the forecast, it means facing a battle to keep your home cool or you could find yourself facing a restless and uncomfortable night’s sleep in the stuffy conditions. But as the majority of homes in the UK are designed to lock in warmth, cooling rooms down quickly is often easier said than done if you aren’t lucky enough to have air conditioning.
Luckily though, there is a very simple and cost-effective solution to tackle this problem and it simply requires a bowl of cold water. Energy experts recommend placing bowls of cold water around your home, such as on windowsills or worktops, during bouts of warm weather as this can be surprisingly effective in cooling hot air.
A bowl of water – or ice cubes if you have any – can help cool a room as the water absorbs heat from the air and turns it into vapour, which then lowers the overall air temperature in your home.
Expert advice on using water bowls
LEAP Energy Advice said: “Although it may seem peculiar, placing bowls of water around the house can aid in cooling the hot air. This simple technique can be surprisingly effective! This method of cooling is especially effective when the bowl of water, or ice, is placed near an open window or in front of a fan as the breeze helps to circulate cold air into your home.”
LEAP added: “If you need to cool down quickly, try placing a bowl of ice and cold water in front of your fan’s blades. This will cause the air blowing from the fan to pass over the icy water, creating a refreshing sensation on your skin. It’s like having a homemade, DIY air-conditioner!”
Using a fan in combination with the bowl of water isn't essential as the water alone can help to cool the air, but you'll get better results if you can get that breeze going as well. Of course, running a fan will have an impact on your energy bills but it's a fraction of the cost compared to running an air conditioner, which can cost up to 40 times as much, so the pay-off of a refreshingly cool room is arguably worth it.
British Gas backs the tip
The tip is backed up by major energy supplier British Gas as a low-cost way to keep your home, and yourself, cool when temperatures warm up. British Gas said: "While fans aren’t the most expensive appliance to run, using one is still likely to impact your fuel bills - but there are some things you can do to get the most out of the energy you’re paying for. To really cool down a room with a fan, place a deep dish of ice in the front of it to whip up the water mist and chill the breeze. You can also point a box fan out of an open window in the evenings – this pushes the hot air out instead of just blowing it around the room."
