Weather forecasting maps suggest widespread rain could spell an end to the heatwave that is expected to bring temperatures as high as 33C during the extended Bank Holiday weekend
The Met Office expects temperatures to rise to 33C over the Bank Holiday weekend as a heatwave descends on the UK.
Some weather models even suggest 35C is possible in the coming days. But forecasting maps now show rain could spell an end to the unusually-hot conditions, with showers in all 92 counties across the UK.
The ECMWF weather model shows rain moving in from the Atlantic on the evening of May 31, with the heaviest showers hitting western parts of Wales and England as well as central and southern Scotland to begin with.
The rain is then tracked to move eastwards across the UK. By midday on June 1, the maps show showers falling in the Midlands and the south-east – including in London.
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The ECMWF model shows a second weather front moving across southern and central regions on June 2. Maps for midday show Wales, central England and the south engulfed by rain, with the heaviest downpours hitting the capital.
Across the three days, the weather maps show rain could impact each of the UK’s 92 counties.
Before the rain however, the Met Office says the UK faces record-breaking temperatures over the Bank Holiday weekend. The current temperature record for May is 32.8C – but the mercury is expected to rise to at least 33C on Monday.
The Met Office predicts highs of 31C in southern areas this afternoon, with 32C to follow tomorrow. 33C is expected on Monday, with 32C following on Tuesday and 28C on Wednesday.
This means we could see six consecutive days of heatwave conditions after temperatures rose above 28C in the south yesterday. An official heatwave is declared when temperatures rise above the heatwave threshold for three straight days. That threshold varies from 28C to 25C across different UK counties.
The UKHSA has issued heat health alerts across the UK. Five regions – East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East – are under an amber alert until May 27.
The amber alerts warn: “Significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the high temperatures.” The rest of the English regions are under yellow alerts.
