Will there be a heatwave this weekend? Latest Met Office forecast
Forecasters said several areas will reach three consecutive days of soaring temperatures by Friday, with many more attaining the heatwave threshold the following day.
The warm weather is predicted to remain in place for the entire week and into the weekend, when a high of 32C is forecast on Saturday.
The hottest day of the year so far was last Friday, when a temperature of 29.4C was recorded in Santon Downham, West Suffolk, but that figure is expected to be exceeded by the weekend.
While the end of last week gave Britons a taste of hot conditions before thunderstorms brought thousands of lightning strikes and heavy rain, things will be much more sustained - and hotter - in the coming days.
The Met Office said Monday will see highs of 26C in cities such as London and Birmingham, rising slightly to 27C on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday, however, temperatures creep up even further to 29C in London, the South West and southern parts of England, and those highs will remain in place on Friday.
By the weekend, things go up another notch, as many areas will see temperatures of 30C and above.
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said the first wave of warm weather up to Wednesday will be caused by high pressure that extends from the Azores in the North Atlantic Ocean west of Portugal, while this will be boosted at the end of the week by an incursion of warm air from further south in Europe.
Although we are still a few days away, and forecasts can of course change, it is looking like yes, many areas of the UK are going to experience a heatwave, according to the Met Office.
Madge told Yahoo News: "It's likely that many places in the UK will see heatwave conditions being met.
"The broad picture will mean we will see a number of places that meet heatwave conditions, some by Friday and many more by Saturday, when we could see a temperature of 32C in the south and east and into the Midlands, with 30C quite widely south."
While many media reports will often refer to a "mini-heatwave", it isn't a definition used by forecasters.
"Meteorologically, there is no such thing," said Madge.
A heatwave, on the other hand, is classed by the Met Office as a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold.
This threshold varies depending on the county in England, Scotland and Wales, while Northern Ireland has its own single threshold.
In London, for example, this threshold is 28C, while it is 27C on the south east coast, and 25C in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Read more: How hot it could get this summer as Met Office issues heatwave warning (Yahoo News)
The week ahead will see high pressure building......and high temperatures for some 📈 pic.twitter.com/hsg2gNOAAG
— Met Office (@metoffice) June 15, 2025
Yahoo breaks down what the weather will be like for each region of the UK, according to the Met Office.
Monday and Tuesday
Early mist and low cloud soon dispersing to leave a fine day with lengthy periods of sunshine. Becoming very warm in the north especially, with generally light winds. Feeling a little cooler in southern coastal districts. Maximum temperature 27°C.
Early low cloud and mist should soon disperse to leave another fine and very warm day on Tuesday, with plenty of sunshine and light winds. Maximum temperature 27°C.
Wednesday to Friday
Fine and increasingly hot through this period, with temperatures climbing by both day and night while winds remain light.
Monday and Tuesday
Any low cloud, patchy mist and fog lifting and clearing fairly readily in the morning to leave a fine day. Some lengthy sunny spells developing, and continuing this way into the afternoon. Light winds, and feeling warm in the sunshine. Maximum temperature 21°C.
A grey and misty start on Tuesday in places, and low cloud continuing to affect parts of North Devon and Cornwall during the day. Otherwise some warm sunshine developing. Winds remaining light. Maximum temperature 21°C.
Wednesday to Friday
Increasingly settled this week as high pressure builds from the southwest. Light winds and lengthy spells of warm sunshine, with temperatures on the rise. A few showers possible on Friday.
Monday and Tuesday
A settled day with early morning misting lifting into cloud and gradually breaking and thinning, allowing plenty of sunny spells to develop into the afternoon. Light winds for all and feeling especially warm in the sunshine. Maximum temperature 25°C.
Mostly fine on Tuesday with gentle winds and some warm or very warm spells of sunshine developing. However, patchy low cloud towards the west and northwest, forming more widely later. Maximum temperature 24°C.
Wednesday to Friday
High pressure building from the southwest brings increasingly settled conditions. Dry and fine with plenty of warm sunshine, and with temperatures continuing to rise through the week.
Monday and Tuesday
Any early low cloud soon dissipating to leave a fine day with lengthy periods of sunshine, with this sunshine perhaps turning hazy at times under high cloud. Becoming very warm in the east especially, with generally light winds. Maximum temperature 26°C.
Rather cloudy with the odd spot of rain at first on Tuesday, edging southeast and becoming more showery with time to leave dry conditions and some further sunny spells later. Nearer-normal temperatures. Maximum temperature 23°C.
Wednesday to Friday
Fine and increasingly hot through this period, with temperatures climbing by both day and night while winds remain light.
Monday and Tuesday
A dry day, with a fairly cloudy and locally misty start to the morning, but increasing amounts of sunshine developing into the afternoon. Breezy along the coasts and over the Pennines, but lighter winds elsewhere. Pleasantly warm in the sunshine. Maximum temperature 22°C.
A grey start to Tuesday with hill fog and light rain and drizzle, mainly across higher ground through the morning. Brighter breaks developing from the northwest later. Feeling cool where cloud persists. Maximum temperature 19°C.
Wednesday to Friday
High pressure building from the south brings increasing settled conditions. Some cloudier skies for a time, but plenty of lengthy spells of sunshine too. Light winds, and getting warmer.
Monday and Tuesday
Mainly dry, best sun in east where warm. Maximum temperature 22°C.
On Tuesday, cloud soon breaking up to bring a bright day with some sunny interludes. One or two light showers are possible. Fresh southwesterly winds at first easing. Maximum temperature 21°C.
Wednesday to Friday
There will be a good deal of dry weather with some sunny spells on each day. Winds turning light and becoming warmer. Perhaps the odd shower on Friday.
Many will see periods of warm sunshine during Monday afternoon 🌤️But cloud will feature more prominently in the northwest, with outbreaks of rain for western Scotland 🌧️ pic.twitter.com/wRMWKD1Gix
— Met Office (@metoffice) June 16, 2025
Monday and Tuesday
A cloudy start with a little light rain in northwest. Otherwise a dry day and brightening up with sunny spells. Cloud thickening again towards evening. Warmer. Maximum temperature 22°C.
Cloud soon breaking up to bring a bright day on Tuesday with some sunny interludes. One or two light showers are possible. Moderate southwesterly winds at first easing. Maximum temperature 20°C.
Wednesday to Friday
There will be a good deal of dry weather with some sunny spells on each day. Winds turning light and becoming warmer. Perhaps the odd shower on Friday.
Monday and Tuesday
Rather cloudy at first with some mist and hill fog, though this lifting and clearing to give a fine day across the country with plenty of sunny spells developing into the afternoon. Feeling warm in the sunshine, with light winds. Maximum temperature 21°C.
A grey and murky start to Tuesday. Warm spells of sunshine developing across the south and east for a while, though cloud thickening enough further north and west to give patchy rain. Maximum temperature 20°C.
Wednesday to Friday
Increasingly settled this week as high pressure builds from the southwest. Light winds and lengthy spells of warm sunshine with temperatures on the rise. A few showers possible on Friday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Northallerton weather forecast: What will the weekend be like?
The Met Office has forecasted a dry and bright weekend for Northallerton. Friday will be clear and sunny, with temperatures starting at 14C in the morning and peaking at 24C in the afternoon. The evening will see a gradual cooling, with temperatures dropping to 16C by night. There is less than a five per cent chance of rain throughout the day. Saturday will be mild and pleasant, with a mix of sunshine and some cloud cover. The morning will start partly cloudy, becoming sunny with temperatures between 15C and 18C. The afternoon will be mostly sunny and warm, with temperatures reaching up to 23C. The evening will be bright early, cooling later to 16C by night. The chance of rain remains below five per cent all day. Sunday will be warm and bright, with full sun by mid-morning. The day will start partly cloudy, turning sunny with temperatures between 14C and 18C. The afternoon will be warm, sunny, and dry, with temperatures reaching up to 24C. The evening will see continued sunshine, with temperatures cooling to 16C by night. No rain is expected throughout the day.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Butterfly population boosted by grass cutting delay
A forest has seen its highest butterfly population in 17 years after delaying the cutting of its grass and wildflowers until later in the summer. It comes a year after the wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation declared a national "butterfly emergency", with numbers at a record low. Hatfield Forest in Takeley, Essex, was once owned by King Harold II in the 11th Century, but now belongs to the National Trust. Operations manager James Rowland said grass and wildflowers were normally cut back in June, but "by delaying as long as possible, to late July into August, we're allowing flowering species to remain in flower for longer, providing greater benefit to nectar-reliant species". After defeat at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, ownership of the forest passed from King Harold to William. It then became a royal hunting forest under Henry I's reign in about 1100. Today, the National Trust describes Hatfield Forest as the "most complete example" of a medieval royal hunting forest. Butterfly Conservation has previously said the butterfly population was a good indicator of environmental health. The hot and dry spring has been a helpful factor in population success, but the charity says the changes in its landscape management have made the biggest impact. Mr Rowland continued: "Grassland management is an important part of how we manage the landscape. "Two years ago we decided to make a small change to managing this habitat and since then we've seen numbers soar. "As our summers get hotter and drought-like conditions become more common, it's more crucial than ever to sustain a nectar source for our pollinators. "During a peak dry spell, many grassland species quickly start to decline and our hardiest species like thistle and ragwort can be a lifeline to many invertebrates." The trust also uses cattle to stop the overgrowth of more dominant plants and break up compacted soil, allowing grass and wildflowers to grow through. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Related stories 'Butterfly bomb' as estate enjoys population surge Record numbers of rare butterfly seen at reserve Wildlife charity declares 'butterfly emergency' Related internet links Hatfield Forest - National Trust Butterfly Conservation
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Tropical Storm Erin could soon become the Atlantic season's first hurricane
Fifth time's the charm? After an early summer lull, the Atlantic could soon have its first hurricane of the year: Erin. Erin strengthened into a strong tropical storm with sustained winds of 70 mph on Thursday evening while over the open tropical Atlantic, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm could bring some gusty winds, rain, rough surf and rip currents to parts of the far northeastern Caribbean as it slides just north of the islands this weekend. Erin is tracking west-northwest on Friday morning, still hundreds of miles away from any land. The storm is expected to strengthen over the next few days as it cruises across the Atlantic and is expected to become a Category 4 hurricane by Sunday. Four other systems roamed the Atlantic basin before Erin – Andrea, Barry, Chantal and Dexter – but none were stronger than a tropical storm. The season's first hurricane is slightly behind schedule. The first hurricane of the season typically forms around August 11, although recent seasons have had some early arrivals. There had already been three hurricanes – Beryl, Debby and Ernesto – at this point last year. Erin is forecast to pass just north of the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this weekend, while making a gradual turn toward the north. Tropical storm watches were issued for several of the northern Leeward Islands on Thursday evening. Direct landfall on any of the Caribbean islands is unlikely, but not impossible, if Erin's path wobbles in the coming days. It's more likely that Erin will churn up rough seas and produce rip currents in the Caribbean through the weekend and into early next week. Gusty wind and rain – which could be heavy at times – are also possible depending on exactly how close Erin tracks to the islands. The storm's intense rain could also cause flash flooding or mudslides. It's too soon to know what kind of threat Erin could pose to Bermuda. Any potential impacts to the island should become clearer early next week. The hurricane is currently forecast to stay away from the United States, but that's not an absolute certainty. Even if it does remain offshore, Erin could also generate rough surf and dangerous rip currents along the US East Coast next week. How quickly Erin strengthens in the coming days could be the key factor in its eventual path. There's plenty of fuel for Erin to tap into in the western Atlantic as sea surface temperatures are much warmer than normal. They aren't quite as warm as the record levels reached in 2023 and 2024, but are still far warmer than they'd be in a world that wasn't heating up due to fossil fuel pollution. Erin could explode in strength once it reaches this very warm water and become the season's first major hurricane — Category 3 or higher — by Sunday, according to the National Hurricane Center. When hurricanes grow stronger, their storm clouds also grow taller and reach higher into the atmosphere. That extra height allows them to tap into the faster winds present higher in the atmosphere that can pull the storm more to the north. The Bermuda High — a large, semi-permanent area of clockwise circulating high pressure that meanders over the Atlantic Ocean — is often in the driver's seat in this case: When the high turns the steering wheel, the hurricane generally follows. But if Erin develops more slowly, the system could stay lower in the atmosphere, where the trade winds — winds that flow clockwise around the equator — could keep it tracking to the west and prevent it from turning. Which scenario wins out will become clear by the weekend, but any islands in the potential path of Erin should prepare ahead of time. August is when the tropics usually come alive: The busiest stretch of the season typically spans from mid-August to mid-October. Forecasters expect above-average tropical activity this year and more storms could form in short order. An area of showers and thunderstorms in the southern portion of the Gulf has a medium chance of becoming a tropical depression before the weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center. The stormy area has a short window to develop while drifting over the very warm water of the Gulf before it moves inland, likely in northeastern Mexico or southern Texas, by Friday night. Periods of heavy rain are possible in the area Friday regardless of whether a tropical depression or tropical storm forms. A Level 2 of 4 risk of flooding rain is in place Friday in far southern Texas with a Level 1 of 4 risk for the rest of the state's Gulf Coast, as well as parts of southern Louisiana, due to the anticipated arrival of moisture-loaded air, according to the Weather Prediction Center. The rain could result in some flooding, especially along low-lying or poor drainage areas, according to the National Weather Service in Brownsville, Texas.
