The UK could experience another heatwave towards the end of this week, although thunderstorms and rain showers are also expected. Temperatures in parts of England may reach 28C or higher by Thursday, making some areas hotter than Spain.
Weather Outlook
Brits woke up to dry and settled weather on Monday, according to the Met Office, with further cloud and rainfall possible into Tuesday. However, Met Office meteorologist Honor Criswick said high pressure building across the country will bring warm and humid conditions, with temperatures climbing above the seasonal average in some regions.
"Throughout the week things are heating up in the south and the South East. We've got high pressure starting to build, and there's a warm plume moving up through continental Europe," she said.
"Whether or not it'll be a heatwave remains to be seen as there's still a lot to play for, but things are certainly turning a lot warmer, if not maybe even hot, by the end of the week, although this is mostly confined to the South East."
Humidity and Rain
The heat is also expected to bring humidity, along with potential clouds and rain. Londoners will enjoy 28C on Thursday, with partly sunny skies likely to see pubs bustling with patrons.
The rest of the summer could be a scorcher, with the Met Office releasing its three-month outlook indicating even hotter weather may be on the way.
Summer Forecast
In its three-month outlook published on June 1, the Met Office stated that the chance of a hot summer is "higher than normal" and warned of an increased risk of heatwaves and "heat-related impacts." For June, the forecaster said the next three months are likely to be twice as hot as the reference period of 1991-2020.
Citing global warming and El Niño, a natural weather phenomenon that can push up temperatures, as the main drivers of the warmer summer weather, the Met Office said: "An increased chance of hot conditions implies a greater-than-normal chance of heatwaves."
The Met Office's outlook also mentions higher chances of a wet season but stresses that "near average rainfall remains the most likely outcome."
