More hot weather is on the way, according to forecasters, with the chance of temperatures topping 30C soon – while water bosses have said they are worried about drought conditions this summer
Temperatures could rise above 30 degrees very soon as the mini-heatwave continues, according to the latest forecasts.
Most of Britain enjoyed yet another day of warm, dry sunshine yesterday, with the mercury reaching 25.6C in some parts of the country – well above the average for May. Conditions are set to be slightly cooler today, but will still be comfortably in the twenties in many parts of the south, including 24C in the capital, dropping to the mid-to-high teens further north. However, temperatures are yet to breach the 30C threshold in the UK yet so far in 2025 – sparking speculation over when this weather milestone will be reached.
According to James Madden from Exacta Weather, this could finally happen when another “heat spike” arrives from Friday onwards. In an updated forecast, he said temperatures are likely to be in the “mid to high 20s minimum and/or 30C+ maximum”, with the hot spell lasting “into at least the first half of next week.”
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Mr Madden also predicted another period of “high pressure and significant temperature rises” during “the second half of May”, resulting in conditions even warmer than they have been recently.
It comes as water bosses sounded the alarm over an unusually dry spring – with millions of households told they could face water restrictions and a potential hosepipe ban this summer.
The Environment Agency has warned of a “medium” risk of drought in England this summer without any sustained rainfall, after the UK experienced its driest start to spring, in March and April, in 61 years.
The regulator has said there are currently no hosepipe bans planned, but warned water companies might have to implement measures including restrictions in the months ahead.
The regulator has urged utilities to take action to cut leaks and help customers save water and Thames Water is among the firms warning of the potential for water restrictions for its 16 million customers if the weather stays dry.
North-west and north-east England have both seen their driest start to a calendar year since 1929, the Environment Agency (EA) said on Tuesday, while England as a whole has experienced its driest February to April period since 1956. Water levels in April were at their lowest on record at six EA monitoring sites across the north of England.
There were also record lows on the River Don at Doncaster in South Yorkshire, the River Swale at Crakehill Topcliffe in North Yorkshire, the South Tyne at Haydon Bridge in Northumberland, the Wharfe at Tadcaster in North Yorkshire, the Wear at Witton Park in Lancashire and the Mersey at Ashton Weir in Greater Manchester.
Environment Agency deputy director of water, Richard Thompson, said: “The changing climate means we will see more summer droughts in the coming decades.
“The last two years were some of the wettest on record for England but drier conditions at the start of this year mean a drought is a possibility and we need to be prepared.
“It’s heartening to see more people looking to reduce their water use and we expect water companies to do more to cut leakage and roll out smart meters.”
