Weather charts are beginning to heat up, showing parts of Britain could soon be basking in temperatures of up to 24C, offering a hint of summer at last.
But do not get too excited just yet, as the Met Office says this week will remain grim and chilly, with nowhere in the UK expected to hit even 20C between Monday and Friday, according to the Mirror.
However, hope is on the horizon with the ECMWF weather model showing a burst of warmer air sweeping in from May 21, bringing a four-day spell of sunshine and pushing temperatures to around 23C in the South East. Much of central England could also finally reach 20C, the charts reveal.
Temperature Forecast for May 22-24
On May 22, the maps indicate highs of 24C are possible in the south-east, including London. Other southern parts of England could reach 22C, while 21C is achievable in central England.
May 23 is anticipated to bring highs of 23C in southern England and 21C in the Midlands. Northern Ireland and Scotland look set to be a few notches cooler than England throughout this period, though certain areas of Wales, close to the border with England, could see temperatures climb to around 20C.
The ECMWF model suggests May 24 will be the finest day for widespread warmth, with 22C and 23C highs possible across a vast stretch of England, from the south coast up to Yorkshire. Overall, the maps show 35 counties in England and Wales could experience temperatures of 20C or above across the four days.
UK Counties Facing 20C or Above
England
- Somerset
- Devon
- Cornwall
- Yorkshire
- Lancashire
- Cheshire
- Shropshire
- Staffordshire
- Nottinghamshire
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Herefordshire
- Derbyshire
- Warwickshire
- Northamptonshire
- Norfolk
- Suffolk
- Cambridgeshire
- Gloucestershire
- Worcestershire
- Oxfordshire
- Buckinghamshire
- Bedfordshire
- Essex
- Kent
- Hertfordshire
- Surrey
- Berkshire
- Hampshire
- Wiltshire
- Dorset
Wales
- Flintshire
- Denbighshire
- Montgomeryshire
- Monmouthshire
Met Office Forecast for May
The Met Office's latest predictions indicate that temperatures could become "rather warm" towards the latter part of this month. Prior to that, however, we should anticipate "cooler than average" conditions.
The Met Office's forecast for May 16 to May 25 states: "Changeable and at times rather unsettled conditions look to dominate through the middle part of May, with low pressure often close by.
"This means periods of rain or showers, some of which could be heavy, for many places, though some drier interludes are also expected. Initially temperatures likely cooler than average, but tending to recover, perhaps becoming rather warm by the end of the period as it tends to become more settled, especially in the south."
