Sun-loving Brits will be looking forward to the heatwave this weekend, with temperatures set to hit 33°C in parts of the country. Now, a scientist has revealed the weather phenomenon we have to thank for the unusually warm weather.
While the start of May was surprisingly chilly, Professor Hannah Cloke, a hydrologist at the University of Reading, explains why the UK's weather is about to take a very different turn. The heatwave is largely being driven by a large, stable block of high pressure over western Europe, according to the expert.
'As air sinks beneath it, it heats up through compression, pushing surface temperatures well beyond what we would expect at this time of year,' Professor Cloke explained. 'This is then further intensified by very warm air being drawn in from north Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, as well as strong solar heating as we approach the longest days of the year.
'When conditions are stable enough, this kind of pattern can persist for days or even weeks, preventing the cooler Atlantic weather that usually keeps British summers in check from breaking through. For parts of south-east England, we could be looking at 30°C, a threshold rarely crossed in May.'
The Met Office forecasts stunning weather for much of the UK across the bank holiday weekend – with the exception of western Scotland and Northern Ireland where it will be cooler and cloudier with some rain at times. Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster, Steve Kocher, said: 'Temperatures will climb through the weekend, especially in the south, where 30°C is likely to be recorded on Saturday and 32°C on Sunday.
'Temperatures are forecast to peak on Monday when we could see 33°C recorded in southern England and the Midlands.' The heatwave will be so intense that the Met Office even predicts that it could be record-breaking. 'It is likely that the May and Spring UK temperature records will be broken over the Bank Holiday weekend, with forecast temperatures surpassing the existing record of 32.8°C,' Mr Kocher added.
Many Brits have flocked to TikTok to express their excitement at the warm weather. 'This bank holiday can't come soon enough,' one delighted Brit exclaimed. Another said: '31 degrees & 3 days – bring us back to lifeeeeee.' And one joked: 'Won't be able to drag me out of the pub.'
However, Professor Cloke has warned that the prolonged heat could be a nightmare for British farmers. She said: 'For farmers, a prolonged spell of heat and dry weather at this stage of the growing season brings real concern. Many crops are at a critical point of development and sustained high temperatures, combined with a lack of rainfall, can cause stress, reduce yields and in some cases cause irreversible damage. Parts of Europe are already dry after a below-average spring, which makes this episode particularly poorly timed.'
While the large block of high pressure over western Europe is being credited for the heatwave, Professor Cloke says that these hot spells could become more common thanks to climate change. She added: 'Spells of extreme heat like this are a reminder of why adaptation to a warming climate cannot wait. A report published this week by the Climate Change Committee warns that without urgent action, the majority of UK homes will overheat by 2050, water shortages will worsen and the costs to public welfare could reach hundreds of billions of pounds a year. The solutions exist. The challenge now is turning adaptation plans on paper into streets, homes, rivers and infrastructure that are ready for what's coming.'
