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UK temperatures to hit 26C after sunniest spring on record

A sunny park with people having picnics under the treesGetty Images
Chris Fawkes
Lead Weather Presenter

Temperatures are set to rise across England and eastern Wales over the next few days, with some areas expected to reach 26C on Saturday.

The warmer weather comes after a noticeably more unsettled period, which has seen rain making a return.

This follows an extraordinary spring, which has been confirmed as the sunniest on record.

With a few days of the season remaining, is a heatwave on the way for the start of summer?

A sunny blue sky with wispy cloud over a beachBBC WeatherWatchers / MichelleR1967

1 May was the warmest day of the year so far, with widespread sunshine like this in Eastbourne, East Sussex

The forecast higher temperatures are down to a weak ridge of high pressure that will build over the south of the UK.

In the warmest areas, temperatures are expected to reach 24C on Thursday, climbing to 25C on Friday and 26C on Saturday.

Is this a heatwave? To officially classify as one, temperatures must exceed a specific threshold for three consecutive days. This threshold varies across the UK by region but typically ranges between 25C and 28C (77F to 82F).

We probably will not see temperatures reach the heatwave threshold anywhere, and certainly not for three consecutive days - therefore it is definitely not going to be a heatwave.

The highest temperature recorded this May also looks well out of reach.

Well, is it a mini-heatwave then? Meteorologists do not have an official definition for a "mini-heatwave" so it is not a term we use to describe the weather. We would be more likely to refer to it as "a few warm days".

Meanwhile low pressure will continue to bring rain and showers to northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland over the next few days.

Temperatures will remain slightly above the May average, and it will feel pleasant whenever the Sun breaks through the clouds.

A map of forecast temperatures Saturday

Feeling warm Saturday in east Wales and England, but cooler by Sunday

Is a June heatwave on the way?

June is the first month of meteorological summer, so it is not unusual to have hot spells of weather.

We may see some hot air move in from Europe around 10 June, potentially pushing temperatures into the high 20s or low 30s.

However, it is far too early to say for certain as this forecast looks nearly two weeks ahead.

Any hot weather could also come with the risk of some big thunderstorms. We will be keeping an eye on how the forecast evolves over the next week or so to narrow down these details.

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