The BBC has issued a significant weather update, confirming that the UK is set for a major shift from current rainy and unsettled conditions to sunshine and warmer temperatures by the weekend. Exact dates for the return of 30C heat to England have been revealed.
Heatwave Arrives This Weekend
According to the BBC, the outlook is expected to turn brighter from Friday, June 12, with temperatures climbing to the early twenties in the southeast of England as pressure builds across the country. As we head towards Friday, June 12, Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14, the Met Office has indicated that current indicators suggest temperatures may hit or exceed 30C in some places.
Short-Term Forecast
The BBC says Wednesday will see sunny spells, areas of cloud, and scattered showers, which will ease by the evening, with a risk of thunder. Thursday is set to turn cloudy and breezy, with outbreaks of rain moving in from the west during the morning. In the afternoon, the rain will clear to variable cloud and a few showers, and similar conditions may persist into Friday, staying cool.
Wednesday and Thursday will be wet and windy everywhere, with some locally heavy or thundery bursts of rain. Some areas will become more showery on Thursday, but any brighter intervals will probably be short-lived. Friday should become less breezy and may have a better chance of some sunny spells in between sharp and scattered showers. Temperatures are going to fall near or even a shade below the early-June average; but with south-west to westerly winds, eastern areas may be a little warmer.
Weekend and Beyond
At the weekend, winds should return to more of a southerly direction, so a slight uptick in temperatures is probable for most areas. The track of low-pressure systems will probably start to shift further north, although associated fronts will still take showers or lengthier periods of rain across most regions of the UK. However, the south and east could start to become drier by Sunday, with the bulk of the rain beginning to target the north-west.
Looking ahead to Monday 15 to Sunday 21 June, the BBC says conditions will be changeable, then drier and warmer. The UK should experience further temperature increases, with widespread warmer-than-average conditions and some very warm or hot days, particularly across parts of England and Wales. Given this set-up, it should also be drier than normal, with Atlantic systems mostly diverted north of the UK and sliding towards southwest Europe.
