UK set to be hotter than Athens as temperatures climb to 26C ahead of bank holiday
While the temperature in London is estimated to reach 26 degrees, England will be hotter than Athens on Friday.
The UK will bask in sunshine and temperatures in the low to mid 20s ahead of the bank holiday weekend. The Met Office is predicting maximum temperatures of 23C in Manchester, 26C in London and 20C in Cardiff.
The hot weather is expected to continue until the public holiday at the end of May, with the highest temperatures in the capital of 23 degrees on Saturday and 24 degrees on Sunday and Monday.
“Temperatures could rise above average from Thursday, approaching 20C in some areas in the south,” forecaster Annie Shuttleworth, Met Office meteorologist, said in an online forecast.
“By the bank holiday weekend we could likely see temperatures approaching the mid-20s in some parts of the South East.”
The warm weather comes as a welcome change after the cold winds and showers that lashed northern parts of the UK this weekend, although some showers are expected in the first half of the week before temperatures start to rise.
Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said: “The first half of this week will still be variable, if not unsettled, in parts of England.
“Temperatures at the beginning of the week were still a bit low for this time of year, we expect to see a change as we approach the weekend.”
Mr Snell said Monday would be a sunny and showery day, some of which could be heavy with occasional thunderstorms, while a band of rain would move across much of the UK later in the day.
Wind and rain, sometimes heavy and with thunderstorms, are expected through Tuesday.
Wednesday will see sunny and showery weather, but temperatures will climb towards 20C in the south of England.
Mr Snell added that the weather would become increasingly drier and brighter on Thursday and Friday, particularly in England and Wales, with maximum temperatures of 26C possible in the south-east on Friday.
“The best sunshine over the bank holiday weekend is likely to be in England and Wales,” he said.
Five day weather forecast in England
Tonight and Tonight:
Showers will continue across parts of England and Wales, particularly westwards, where they will become heavier and possibly cause thunderstorms. While there is drought in most of Northern Ireland and Scotland, the clearer sky causes fog to form in places.
Monday:
Sunny and showery rain for many tomorrow, with more persistent rain falling over Northern Ireland, Wales and south-west England towards the evening. Temperatures are near or slightly below average.
Outlook from Tuesday to Thursday:
At first there was anxiety due to heavy rain or prolonged rain. For many people, the weather is starting to get dryer and warmer starting on Thursday.
