The Met Office has forecast that temperatures could reach 23°C in parts of the UK this weekend, with weather maps indicating that 39 counties are set to experience above-average warmth. The latest predictions, issued on Thursday afternoon, suggest that Saturday could bring daytime highs of 23°C in southern areas, while northern regions may see temperatures up to 20°C. Friday is expected to be slightly cooler, with 20°C in the south and 17°C in the north.
Weekend Weather Breakdown
According to the Met Office, Sunday will see a slight dip in temperatures, with highs of 19°C in the south and 15°C in the north. The weather is expected to be changeable, featuring a mix of sunny spells and showers. Some showers could become heavy and thundery, particularly in the south. The BBC's forecast echoes this, predicting scattered showers on Friday that may turn thundery in the south during the afternoon. Saturday will see continued showers in the south, but northern areas should become mostly dry with sunny spells. Sunday may bring rain to far north-western areas and a few showers in far southern England, but otherwise, it will be dry and settled.
Regional Temperature Anomalies
Temperature anomaly maps for Saturday reveal a significant north-south divide. Areas shaded orange indicate temperatures above the seasonal average, while blue areas show below-average temperatures. In total, 39 counties across England and Wales are expected to be warmer than usual. Scotland and Northern Ireland are likely to experience cooler conditions. The counties set for above-average temperatures include: Lancashire, Cheshire, Yorkshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Herefordshire, Derbyshire, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Essex, Kent, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset, Devon, and all Welsh counties including Merioneth, Montgomeryshire, Ceredigion, Radnorshire, Brecknockshire, Monmouthshire, Glamorgan, Carmarthenshire, and Pembrokeshire.
Outlook for Friday
For Friday, the Met Office expects breezy conditions in the northwest with showery outbreaks of rain. Further south and east, it will be drier with sunny spells and a few showers, feeling a little warmer overall.
