Signs of change coming and a cooler weekend in store

TEMPERATURES in Wales were tipped to reach 31C (88F) in Wales yesterday, and the rest of the week is looking “very warm”.

But there are signs of a change by the weekend, with temperatures dropping to 20C (68F) and the possibility of thunderstorms.

Here is the forecast for the week ahead.

Welsh forecaster Derek Brockway tweeted yesterday: “Cardiff Bute Park was the hottest place in #Wales yesterday recording 30.2C. 31C predicted today. 23C in Colwyn Bay.

“More fine and very warm/hot weather this week but signs of a change by the weekend with heavy showers and thunderstorms bringing a drop in temperature.”

The Met Office outlook for Wednesday to Friday in Wales says: “The hot weather will continue through this period, with plenty of sunshine, but also a risk of heavy, possibly thundery showers developing each afternoon.”

Thunderstorms are created by the intense heating of the earth’s surface, and are most common in parts of the world where the weather is hot and humid and often come after a heatwave.

The Met Office says they develop when the atmosphere is unstable – when warm air exists underneath much colder air.

Forecasting the weather in Wales, presenter Sue Charles said: “The heat could trigger the odd, isolated shower, more likely across parts of north Wales.

“For most of us it will be dry, sunny and very warm again. It will stay mild and dry overnight, quite warm for sleeping.

“It is later in the week when we will start to see temperatures dropping away. We could see the high moving eastwards with the low pressure bringing the risk of a thundery break down towards the weekend.”

The Met Office forecast is predicting a change by the end of the week and says: “We see a change on Friday as low pressure slowly edges into the south west. Rain and thundery showers arrive in the south west.

“Some warm sunshine inland elsewhere in the UK.”