The UK heatwave could prove record-breaking for May, with temperatures expected to soar this Bank Holiday weekend. The heat will take a couple of days to build before peaking at the weekend, possibly reaching 30C, according to meteorologists.
Record-Breaking Potential
Although the May record of 32.8C set in London in 1944 is likely to stand, meteorologists believe it will be closely approached. Jim Dale, meteorologist for British Weather Services and co-author of 'Surviving Extreme Weather', said: 'There is a change on the way this week. And that is to something much warmer than we have seen over the past weeks. The hottest day of the weekend is probably going to be Saturday, and we could see temperatures touching 30C in parts of the south and the southeast.'
Mr Dale added: 'It is probably not going to be enough to topple the record for the month, but we are certainly going to approach it.'
Weather Pattern
Temperatures will rise through the week as high pressure builds, making it feel warm in the sunshine but cooler under cloud cover. The warm air is coming from Africa, across Spain and France, and into the UK, which means it will be very warm and possibly uncomfortable at times. Mr Dale noted: 'We are going to get a few days of hot weather, before it turns a bit more comfortable.'
BBC Forecast
The BBC Weather team predicts a drier trend in the second half of the week as high pressure becomes more dominant. They added: 'Temperatures should rise higher to potentially deliver some very warm weather across parts of central, southern and eastern England, where conditions should be driest. The rest of the UK should have above-normal temperatures but could be more variable. Sea breezes could make some coastal areas a bit cooler. Atlantic frontal systems will bring rain, showers and brisk winds to northern and western regions at times, mainly Scotland and Northern Ireland, but these could occasionally nudge into parts of northern England and Wales.'
