The United Kingdom could experience temperatures reaching 27 degrees Celsius on Friday, surpassing the heat in Hawaii, according to the Met Office. However, forecasters are warning of potential heavy rain and thunderstorms, with more unsettled conditions expected over the bank holiday weekend.
Warmest day of the year so far
Temperatures in London and East Anglia could climb to 27C on Friday, making it the hottest day of the year thus far. This would be warmer than Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii, where highs of 26C are predicted. Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge explained that very warm, humid air is moving up from the south, bringing particularly warm weather to eastern and southeastern areas where sunshine will be most abundant.
However, not everyone will enjoy a warm and dry day. Cloud cover along the central spine of the UK—from Scotland, through the Pennines, and into the Midlands—could produce heavy rain on Friday. “Certainly the odd rumble of thunder is possible there, particularly over the Midlands,” Mr Partridge noted.
Regional temperature contrasts
Friday’s highs in London and the South East will be around 10C higher than the seasonal average of 15 to 17C. Meanwhile, Cardiff could be warmer than Athens, where forecasters predict a high of just 14C on Friday—5C cooler than the estimated top temperatures in the Welsh capital.
Bank holiday weekend outlook
The May Day weekend will bring a shift in conditions. “The weekend is a bit of a different story, really,” Mr Partridge said. Saturday may have some bright spells but also showers, especially across northern and western parts of the UK. Sunday is expected to see rain across the country, with temperatures cooling toward the May average. By Monday, temperatures will be roughly where they should be for this time of year—around 11-12C in the north and 15-16C in the south—feeling quite fresh and chilly compared to earlier in the week.
April weather summary
The brief hot spell follows an April that was drier and warmer than average for much of the UK, according to provisional Met Office figures. England received just over a third (38%) of expected rainfall last month, while Wales saw nearly two-thirds (63%). Northern Ireland received close to expected levels, and Scotland had 17% more rain than typical. All four nations recorded a higher mean temperature in April than the long-term average.
