Hot temperatures are set to return to the West Midlands this weekend, with the Met Office forecasting highs of 26C or more. Weather maps indicate that conditions could reach 29C on both Saturday and Sunday, with the heatwave expected to affect over 30 counties across the UK.
Unsettled Weather Before the Heat
Met Office Chief Forecaster Paul Gundersen noted that the UK must first endure a few more wet and chilly days of unsettled weather before the weekend payoff. He stated: "Temperatures across the UK will remain below average for most of this week and it'll often feel rather chilly, but in the sunny spells between showers, the strength of the June sunshine will provide a short-term boost making conditions feel pleasant in sheltered areas."
Significant Improvement from Saturday
Conditions are forecast to improve significantly from Saturday, according to the Met Office. Deputy Chief Meteorologist Steven Keates added: "From this weekend the UK forecast will have a distinctly warmer and drier component with a prolonged spell of above-average temperatures, with values in some locations quite likely to reach 27 to 29C, with the potential for higher values than this."
This hot spell is expected to last well into the following week, forecasters predict. With the return of hot weather, Brits are being urged to exercise caution around water this weekend and beyond. The UK recently experienced a tragic death toll of 19 children and adults in water-related incidents during a single week in the record-breaking heatwave from May 24 to 31. In response, the Mirror launched the 'Save Lives for Sam' campaign to prevent the "catastrophic" deaths of 33 children who drown in England every year—"the equivalent of a classroom of children lost."
Counties Expected to Reach 26C or Higher
The following counties are predicted to see temperatures of 26C or above this weekend: Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Bristol, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Carmarthenshire, Derbyshire, East Midlands, Essex, Gloucestershire, Greater London, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Monmouthshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Wiltshire, and Worcestershire.
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