The next UK heatwave is expected to be "considerably" warmer than average, with the exact date of the hot weather's return now announced. Forecasters indicate that the heat will arrive on Friday, June 12, and continue into Saturday, June 13, but the true heatwave is likely to begin later in the month.
Official Heatwave Forecast
The Met Office and BBC Weather teams have issued updates following a poor start to June marked by grey skies, heavy downpours, and high winds. According to the forecast, the week of Monday, June 22, to Sunday, June 28, is predicted to be "considerably warmer." While weather will improve this weekend, Netweather TV's Jo Farrow warns that it may not yet constitute a heatwave.
Criteria for a Heatwave
Jo Farrow explained: "For an official heatwave, there has to be regionally high temperatures that equal or exceed threshold values for three consecutive days. These values are between 25 and 28 degrees Celsius. Just because it looks warmer by the weekend doesn’t automatically mean it's a heatwave. We will keep you updated as the week progresses." She also questioned whether the change would bring typical summer warmth or a return to the extreme heat some areas experienced in late May.
Week of June 22-28 Details
Netweather TV reported that the week of June 22 to June 28 is expected to be "considerably warmer than average," with positive temperature anomalies exceeding 3 degrees Celsius in some regions. However, the signal for dry weather is reduced; while it will likely be drier than average overall across the UK, some regions may see near or above average rainfall, particularly where thunderstorms break out. Sunshine is expected to be above average in most northern and eastern parts of Britain, but near to slightly below average in south-western Britain.
Met Office Outlook
The Met Office added: "The start of this period will see a transition to a generally more settled weather pattern for much of the UK, as high pressure exerts more influence. This will be most noticeable across southern and eastern parts, whereas areas further northwest could often be cloudier with some rain at times. With the build of pressure will come an increase in temperatures, with the potential for very warm or hot conditions to become established by mid-month, especially across parts of England and Wales. High pressure is favoured to remain close by to the UK towards the end of this period, bringing widely settled conditions and often above average temperatures."
Residents are advised to stay updated as the forecast evolves, with further details expected in the coming days.
