Met Office heatwave warning with hot summer predicted in UK
The Met Office is warning of an increased risk of heatwaves amid predictions that it is twice as likely that summer will be hot across the UK.
The prediction by the forecasting body comes following the country's sunniest Spring on record.
There were about 630 hours of sunshine between March 1 and May 27, in what has also been the driest spring for more than a century.
Now, the Met is predicting a hot summer ahead.
What is a heatwave?
Met Office heatwave warning with hot summer predicted in UK
The Met Office's three-month outlook predicts that the chance of a hot summer is higher than normal, bringing an increased risk of heatwaves and heat-related impacts.
The outlook shows it is 2.3 times more likely than normal that the UK will be hot over meteorological summer, which begins on June 1 and ends on August 31.
The average temperatures across the UK over those months range from 10 to 17C, with the south east of England experiencing the higher averages of 16 to 17C.
The Met Office said: 'While the current three-month outlook shows an increased chance of a hot summer, the temperature signals for this summer are similar to those for recent years and consistent with our warming climate.
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'The increased chance of hotter than average temperatures is not a guarantee of prolonged hot weather or heatwaves, but it does mean that heatwave conditions could be reached at times.
'However, it's important to bear in mind that an increased chance of hot conditions could also reflect a mix of hot and cool days, warm nights, or less extreme levels of warmth rather than continual heatwave conditions specifically.'
The summers of 2018 and 2021 to 2023 were also predicted to be hot, with data showing it has been a decade since the last time a summer was predicted to be cool, in 2015.
The latest outlook also shows that the levels of rainfall and wind speed for the next three months will likely be near average.
How to cope with hot weather
The three-month long-range forecast does not identify weather for a specific day or week but gives an indication of possible temperature, rainfall and wind speed over the period as a whole.
How to stay cool in summer in the UK
The NHS suggests staying out of the heat if possible, adding that it is best to stay shaded, particularly between 11am and 3pm.
It also recommends using sunscreen, wearing a hat and light clothes, and avoiding exercise or activity that makes you hotter.
To cool yourself down, have cold food and drinks and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes.
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Avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks.
It is also vital to keep your living space cool, closing windows during the day and opening them at night when it is cooler.
Electric fans can also help if the temperature is below 35 degrees.
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