UK weather: Heatwave to hit next week with hottest day of the year predicted
Written by News on 20/06/2020
Britain looks set to enjoy some scorching weather as it steps into summer, with the hottest day of the year so far forecast next week.
Temperatures will build day on day from Saturday – which is summer solstice or midsummer – as hot air is drawn in from the near continent.
The Met Office is predicting a heatwave across parts of the UK, with temperatures in London beating those in Portugal on Wednesday.
Forecasts show top temperatures could bearound 30-33C (86 -91F) across southeast England, while it should reach 25 -30C (77 – 86F) elsewhere across England, Wales and eastern Scotland too.
To qualify as a heatwave, temperatures matching or exceeding 25 – 28C (77-82.4F) have to be recorded over three consecutive days. The qualifying temperature depends on location, due to differences in climate across the UK.
Heatwaves occur when high pressure develops across an area, usually in the summer.
Sky News weather presenter Isobel Lang said: “There will be a fresher change this weekend as an Atlantic low-pressure system sweeps in a band of rain, clearing on Sunday morning to be replaced by sunshine and showers. The showers will be concentrated across the North and West.
“The week ahead will then see temperatures bounce up quickly to bring what is likely to be the warmest spell of the year so far.”
The current record for this year was set on 20 May, when the temperatures reached 28.2C (82.76F) at Santon Downham in Suffolk.
The highest June record to beat is 35.6C (96.08F), which was recorded at Mayflower Park Southampton on 28 June 1976.
Some thundery downpours may break out later in the week, and while not good news for sun worshippers it will at least provide a little relief for UK gardeners.
(c) Sky News 2020: UK weather: Heatwave to hit next week with hottest day of the year predicted
