45 counties to be scorched in 27C 'mini heatwave' coming in days
A wave of searing heat is predicted for the end of May and start of June across the country, allowing Brits to gather in flocks to enjoy the blue skies and sunshine
Temperatures in the UK are set to rise to an impressive 27C, with red weather maps showing a ' mini-heatwave ' as 45 counties are predicted to hit at least 23C over the coming days. The news comes as the Environment Agency claims the country has experienced the driest start to spring in nearly 70 years, causing wildlife in country parks to desperately scramble for water and farmers to struggle with dry fields.
The maps predict a wave of scorching heat in the end of May and beginning of June, reaching peaks of 27C in the southeast of England. However, areas as far north as North Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire could see the mercury rise to at least 23C, among 43 other counties across England and Wales.
Among the areas set to be sizzling are London and the southeast of England, as dark red sections of maps predict rocketing temperatures of 27C on May 31.
The same temperature is expected to run north though Nottinghamshire to West Yorkshire, affecting York and Harrogate in North Yorkshire too. A brief break from the heat is predicted on June 1, through the capital will stay at 27C at the height of the day, meaning commuters in the capital should be wary of the intense heat.
While exact temperatures are not currently forecasted by the Met Office, it was revealed on Wednesday that a new £1.2bn supercomputer capable of making more accurate forecasts would soon come into use. The innovative technology will reportedly be able to carry out quadrillions of calculations every second.
Chief information officer for the Met Office Charles Ewen said: "People ask how a bigger computer improves the weather forecast.
"One big thing this new computer will allow us to do in the near future is to be able to produce 14-day forecasts with a similar kind of accuracy than we can today for seven, eight, nine days."
The long-range forecast between May 25 and June 3, from the Met Office says humid weather can be expected throughout the period, though things may look wetter for those in the west of the British Isles.
It states: "A much more unsettled period than of late with the whole of the UK likely to see showers or some longer spells of rain, but also some drier and brighter interludes. For Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday it's likely a story of sunshine and showers.
"The showers will be heavier and more frequent in the west where it may also be windy, especially across the northwest. The east, especially the southeast may well see a good deal of dry weather.
"The rest of the week then sees further frontal systems run into the UK, bringing more widespread rain at times, but again some drier spells in-between these. Temperatures will probably be close to average, perhaps slightly above at times, but will feel fairly cool in the often strong winds."
Full list of UK counties set to rise to at least 23C or higher:
ENGLAND:
Kent
East Sussex
West Sussex
Hampshire
Dorset
Somerset
Wiltshire
Berkshire
Surrey
Greater London
Essex
Hertfordshire
Buckinghamshire
Oxfordshire
Gloucestershire
Herefordshire
Shropshire
Cheshire
Staffordshire
Worcestershire
Warwickshire
Northamptonshire
Bedfordshire
Cambridgeshire
Suffolk
Norfolk
Leicestershire
Derbyshire
Nottinghamshire
Merseyside
Greater Manchester
South Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
Lincolnshire
North Lincolnshire
North East Lincolnshire
Kingston upon Hull
East Riding of Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
Lancashire
WALES:
Flintshire
Denbighshire
Powys
Wrexham
Monmouthshire
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