The warm and sunny weather gripping the UK is set to continue, with drivers warned to expect the busiest summer getaway on the roads in four years. UK temperatures have exceeded 30°C for the past 11 days, and forecasters predict the hot spell will persist for at least another seven to 10 days.
Record-Breaking Travel Expected
The RAC estimates that 14.1 million motorists will embark on journeys for holidays or day trips between Friday and Sunday. This is the second-highest figure since the RAC began tracking data in 2016, surpassed only by 18.8 million in 2022, when the easing of coronavirus restrictions sparked a surge in travel.
Most schools in England and Wales break up for the summer holidays at the end of this week or early next week, while the academic year has already ended in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The RAC predicts Saturday will be the busiest day on the roads for getaway journeys, with 3.8 million trips planned. Friday and Sunday are each expected to see 3.4 million trips, with an additional 6.8 million trips spread across the three-day period as drivers remain uncertain about their exact travel day.
Weather Forecast: Sunshine and Dry Conditions
This weekend will bring plenty of sunshine and dry weather, although there may be isolated showers and a slight dip in temperatures. Met Office spokesman Graham Madge said: “The settled and fine conditions people are currently enjoying look locked in for the next seven to 10 days and are likely to remain strong.”
It is too soon to say whether the heatwave conditions will last beyond the next 10 days and towards the end of July. David Hayter, the Met Office’s deputy chief meteorologist, noted: “Every day for the last 11 days, somewhere in the UK has seen temperatures reach or exceed 30C. The high pressure, which has brought this prolonged fine spell, will continue for the next week or so at least, but will shift enough to enable a more northerly flow that will introduce a cooler feel that will end the run of 30C days. However, we are still likely to see some locations remain in heatwave conditions to finish the week.”
Heatwave Criteria and Regional Variations
Whether the current heatwave continues depends on whether temperatures exceed 28°C in London or 25°C for the rest of the country for three consecutive days. So far, Britons have coped with a sweltering summer of above-average temperatures and persistently warm nights. England has been particularly warm, with mean temperatures currently 2.4°C above the average 21°C expected for this time of year. The Met Office said Wales is 2.2°C above its average of around 19.3°C, while Scotland and Northern Ireland have remained closer to their seasonal norms of 17.3°C and 18.6°C, respectively, but are still above average at 0.9°C and 1.3°C.
