The UK may experience a second heatwave just weeks after May's record-breaking temperatures, with the Met Office forecasting that 30C could be surpassed again. Unsettled weather has followed the unprecedented event, with rain and showers expected through Friday, and even snow reported in parts of Scotland.
However, conditions are set to change over the weekend, with temperatures likely to rise above the seasonal average of around 21C for southern England. Dan Stroud, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “We’re looking at temperatures climbing into the weekend, particularly on Saturday and Sunday, so feeling much warmer than recent days.”
Current indicators suggest temperatures might hit 30C and possibly go beyond, though Stroud noted, “How high the temperatures get is still open to a fair amount of debate.” Last month's heatwave saw 26 May become the hottest May day on record for England and Wales, with 35.1C at Kew Gardens and 32.9C at Cardiff Bute Park.
The shift is due to a change in the jet stream, which is currently driving unsettled Atlantic weather across the UK. High pressure building from the south will bring clearing skies and rising temperatures. The South and South East are likely to see the highest temperatures over the weekend.
In the meantime, Tuesday will bring sunny spells and showers, while Wednesday sees blustery showers with a risk of thunder and hail, especially in northern and eastern areas. Thursday will be wet and windy in the east, with rain easing later. Friday will be largely cloudy with patchy rain in the west, becoming drier and warmer from the south into the weekend.
