Britain is braced for scorching temperatures this weekend, with the mercury expected to exceed 20C in large parts of the country. With temperatures as high as 20C in southern England from 9am on Saturday, May 31, the country is likely to be hot for 48 hours, although some places could see rain.
Weather data from WXCharts.com shows large parts of the country turning orange as temperatures rise, with London and the South East seeing the warmest weather. The Met Office forecast for Thursday to Saturday said: “Further spells of rain are expected over the next few days, mainly in the north. Sunny spells and scattered showers in the south, and turning increasingly warm.”
For Saturday and beyond, the weather agency warns that warm temperatures could be accompanied by “changeable” conditions.
Their long-range forecast for May 31 to Monday, June 9 said: “Though possibly more settled initially, likely continuing changeable with further frontal systems running east into the UK bringing further spells of rain, with showery interludes in-between.
“Strong winds may also develop at times, particularly in the north and northwest.”
According to WXCharts.com, Birmingham and southern areas will see temperatures in excess of 22C from midday on May 31, with Kent, Norfolk and Surrey likely to be the warmest.
The areas north and south of London are expected to hit 23C by 6pm on the same day. Wales and Scotland will be cooler, particularly in coastal areas, with highs of 18C expected.
The warm weather in the south of the country will continue into June 1, with many areas seeing the mercury tip above 20C, with Kent once more likely to be the warmest part of the country.
A weekend of scorching temperatures precedes a week of poor weather, with heavy rain expected throughout the following week.
Weather data from WXCharts.com predicts that a large weather front could make landfall with the UK from the Atlantic on June 3, with much of the country soaked in rain making its way south east through Scotland and Wales.
Wet conditions will then become a common theme throughout much of the rest of the week with intermittent showers occurring across the country.
The Met Office long range forecast for the period said: “With time the signs are that systems will increasingly track to the northwest of the country, with the south probably starting to see longer, drier interludes while the northwest continues to see more in the way of rain and at times strong winds.
“Temperatures are expected to be around normal overall, but will be cooler in any prolonged periods of rainfall.”