Following a cold and wet start to June, temperatures are expected to rise this weekend and into next week. While warmer weather is on the way, many will wonder if another heatwave is coming.
Met Office Verdict on June Heatwave
The Met Office has stated that the coming warmer weather will not reach the May heatwave temperatures, when parts of Britain experienced record-breaking 35C heat. According to the Met Office, Saturday is likely to be largely dry for many parts of the UK, with some sunshine. However, in the North West, cloudier conditions may persist. There could still be patchy rain at times, especially near western-facing coasts and on higher ground. Temperatures on Saturday are expected to increase, with the latest weather maps showing highs of around 23C in the south.
Sunday's Forecast
Sunday is set to bring warmer conditions still, with the Met Office predicting a dry weekend in many areas and sunny spells, the best of which are expected in southern areas of the UK. However, for the North and North West, the picture is not as rosy, with more cloud and occasional light rain forecast.
Met Office Meteorologist's Comments
Casting an eye towards the weekend, Met Office Meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth said: "It's worth noting at this point, although it is going to be a warm weekend, we're not expecting temperatures anywhere close to the May heatwave temperatures, but they certainly will be above average and higher than they have been recently." She went on to warn that UV levels and pollen counts would also be high as temperatures climb. "So, this isn't defined as a heat wave, but temperatures will be above average for this point in June for a vast majority of the UK."
Long-Range Forecast
Meteorologists are predicting that high pressure will build across the east and south-east of England. The Met Office's long-range forecast, spanning June 16 to June 25, states: "A changeable period is likely through the middle of next week with outbreaks of rain focused across the north and northwest, some of which could spread to parts of the south and southeast at times. Some strong winds could accompany this, although with temperatures generally above normal. Into the following weekend, high pressure will probably become more dominant with conditions turning more widely dry and settled, and probably very warm for many, especially in the south."
