The UK is set to bask in its hottest weather of the year so far this bank holiday weekend, with the Met Office forecasting highs of 31C in parts of the country. Monday is expected to be the warmest day, with London potentially reaching 31C and much of southern England seeing temperatures in the high 20s.
Weather maps from WXCharts, using MetDesk data, suggest at least 56 counties could see temperatures of 26C or above by 6pm on Monday. Much of England and Wales will enjoy the warm spell, although parts of Cumbria and Yorkshire, along with some exposed coastal areas in the south, are expected to remain slightly cooler.
Only a few areas in Scotland, including the Scottish Borders, Lothian and Aberdeenshire, are expected to reach similar temperatures, while Northern Ireland could see highs of 25C. The current highest temperature recorded in the UK this year was 26.6C at Kew Gardens on April 8, but that record could be broken.
The Met Office outlook for Friday to Sunday says: "Very warm over the Bank Holiday weekend with plenty of sunshine and light winds. However, some heavy, thundery showers are possible on Saturday and some rain in the northwest." Its long-range forecast for Monday, May 25, to Wednesday, June 3, states: "Warm and dry for most on Bank Holiday Monday. Through the week, high pressure is expected to remain in place for much of the UK, meaning fine weather likely to continue for most places."
