The upcoming May bank holiday weekend could see temperatures soar to 25C across the UK, with weather forecasting maps indicating that even northern regions will experience significant warmth.
Temperature Predictions for the Bank Holiday
According to the GFS weather model, the mercury could rise to 25C around London and in north-west England on Sunday, May 24. Highs of 24C are possible elsewhere in southern England, parts of Northern Ireland, and central and northern Scotland. On Monday, May 25, weather maps again show potential highs of 24C in the far north of Scotland, with similar temperatures expected in north-west England around 6pm. Almost every part of the UK is predicted to see temperatures of 20C or above.
Regions Expected to Reach 24C or Higher
Temperature anomaly maps for May 24 show the entire UK shaded in red, indicating temperatures above the seasonal average. Areas of dark red in Scotland and Northern Ireland suggest particularly balmy conditions. Across the two days, the GFS model suggests 18 counties will see temperatures of 24C or above. These include:
- England: Lancashire, Cheshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Kent, Hertfordshire, Surrey
- Scotland: Morayshire, Banffshire, Renfrewshire, Ayrshire, Ross-shire and Cromartyshire, Nairnshire
- Northern Ireland: Tyrone, Fermanagh
Met Office Outlook
The Met Office has confirmed that temperatures could rise into the mid-20s in time for the bank holiday weekend. Meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth stated: “By the end of next week and the start of the bank holiday weekend, temperatures could be above average. From Thursday onwards, temperatures could rise above average, approaching 20C for some across southern areas. We could be closer to the mid-20s, possibly, for some areas, in the south-east, by the bank holiday weekend.”
The Met Office’s forecast for May 19 to 28 adds: “As this period progresses, high pressure is likely to begin to build from the south bringing more settled weather, although with occasional showers. Temperatures near-normal to begin, but tending to rise as the period progresses, perhaps becoming rather warm by the end of the period, especially in the south. Winds will be stronger during the first part of the period, generally from a southwesterly direction, before becoming lighter in line with the more settled conditions.”
