Warm weather brings out the crowds as wales basks in sun
SUNSEEKERS have been making the most of the hot spell across South Wales, with forecasters predicting highs of 30°C in parts of the nation today.
And as these pictures show, people clearly enjoyed basking in heat of around 24°C in beauty spots around the region yesterday, including Barry Island, Penarth and Cardiff’s Bute Park.
But it is today that weather experts believe will be the week’s hottest day, with the most intense heat in southeastern parts of England, where temperatures could nudge 34°C, while parts of Wales could see highs of 30°C.
If it does hit 30°C it would be the hottest June day since 2020, when it reached 31.3°C in Cardiff.
Cardiff and Newport are both forecast to see temperatures hit 26°C today.
Referring to the possibility of 34°C over the border, BBC weather forecaster Simon King said: “If we get to 34°C – a good possibility – it’ll be only the second time on record we’ve had a temperature so high before the summer solstice on June 21.”
The hottest June day on record in Wales was in June 2000, when temperatures hit 33.7°C in Machynlleth.
The settled conditions have allowed conditions to build day-onday through the week. Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Jason Kelly said: “The heat is a result of a mix of home-grown warming due to a high pressure over the southern half of the UK, as well as a southwesterly airflow bringing warm air across the country.
“This is the first spell of hot weather this year and it is unusual for temperatures to exceed these values in June.”
The temperatures don’t look set to be high enough for long enough in Wales to class it as a heatwave, although a heat warning has been issued for parts of England.
And the warm weather is not going to last long, as the Met Office forecast for the weather in Wales over the weekend is: “Feeling cooler for all into the weekend but rather cloudy with the risk of some heavy showers. Turning drier for next week.”