The UK is expected to face a potential heatwave late next week, according to forecasters from the Met Office. Following a period of cold and rainy weather, temperatures are set to rise, with the east and south east of England likely to experience a heatwave over the weekend of June 20 and 21. Weather maps are showing a shift to red as meteorologists anticipate temperatures exceeding 30C starting from Thursday, June 18.
In a statement on the Met Office’s YouTube channel, forecaster Alex Burkill indicated that temperatures will be warmer this weekend but significantly hotter the following weekend, potentially leading to a heatwave. Projections suggest temperatures in the high 20s to low 30s, with a possibility of even hotter conditions.
The upcoming weekend and early next week are expected to bring sunny spells across most of the UK, with dry and warm weather prevailing on Monday, followed by variable cloud cover and rain moving into the northwest by Tuesday. From Wednesday to Friday, temperatures are anticipated to be above average in many regions, particularly in the southeast where it could be very warm or hot at times.
By Thursday, June 18, temperatures are forecasted to reach the high 20s, pushing certain areas into heatwave territory. According to forecaster Alex Brikill, models suggest temperatures could reach the heatwave threshold by the end of next week, especially in central and eastern parts of the UK.
Officially, a heatwave in the UK is declared by the Met Office after a location experiences at least three consecutive days with maximum temperatures meeting or surpassing a specific threshold. For the east and south east of the UK, this threshold is typically around 27C, while London may see temperatures above 28C.
Looking ahead, the Met Office’s long-range forecast indicates that elevated temperatures will persist across the UK towards the end of June and into July. From June 17 to June 26, above-normal temperatures are expected in most areas, with the southeast potentially experiencing very warm or hot conditions. The outlook for June 27 to July 11 suggests temperatures remaining above average, with the possibility of hot weather, particularly in the southern regions.
