The United Kingdom is bracing for its warmest day of the year so far, with temperatures in London and East Anglia predicted to reach 27 degrees Celsius on Friday. This brief hot spell, driven by warm and humid air from the south, means that parts of the country could be hotter than popular destinations such as Sydney, Buenos Aires, Tunis, and even Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii.
Scorching Heat Compared to Global Cities
According to the Met Office, Friday's highs in the southeast will be approximately 10 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average, which typically ranges from 15 to 17 degrees Celsius. The forecaster Simon Partridge explained that the warm air moving up from the south will bring particularly high temperatures to eastern and southeastern regions, where sunshine will be most abundant. This will make London and East Anglia warmer than Sydney (forecast high of 24C), Buenos Aires (22C), Tunis (22C), and Honolulu (26C).
Regional Variations and Rain
However, not all of the UK will bask in the heat. A band of cloud stretching from Scotland through the Pennines and into the Midlands is expected to bring heavy rain on Friday. Partridge noted that while the southeast enjoys sunshine, central areas will see a different story, with some regions experiencing wet conditions.
Bank Holiday Weekend Outlook
The warm weather is unlikely to persist through the bank holiday weekend. The Met Office forecasts changeable conditions, with Saturday offering some bright spells but also showers, particularly in northern and western parts of the UK. Sunday is expected to see rain across the country, and temperatures will gradually cool to more typical May averages.
By Monday, temperatures will align with seasonal norms: around 11 to 12 degrees Celsius in the north and 15 to 16 degrees Celsius in the south. Partridge described this as feeling "quite fresh and chilly compared to what we've had."
April Weather Recap
This brief hot spell follows an April that was drier and warmer than average for much of the UK. Provisional Met Office figures show that all four nations recorded a higher mean temperature in April than the long-term average, setting the stage for the current warm snap.
