Hottest day of the year so far is predicted for midweek
Britain is set to sizzle in a tropical heatwave – with the hottest day of the year predicted for the middle of next week.
Temperatures will climb from today onwards topping out at a possible 32C on Wednesday as winds blow in warm weather from southern Europe.
This comes after a turbulent past week that saw severe thunderstorms across the north and snow in some parts of the West Midlands.
Andy Page, chief meteorologist with the Met Office, said: “It will be another bright day for most of [today] with sunny spells and scattered showers, these turning heavy across Northern Ireland and Scotland.”
While the start of the week will remain unsettled across northwestern Scotland, a warm and dry front will dominate almost everywhere else. Temperatures could rocket to 22C tomorrow and 27C on Tuesday before peaking at 32C on Wednesday.
Martin Young, deputy chief meteorologist with the Met Office, said: “By the middle of next week we’ll see temperatures across much of England and Wales widely climbing into the mid to high twenties ... and it will probably be hot in parts of southern and eastern England, as temperatures peak close to 30C.
“It’s possible Northern Ireland and Scotland will join the rest of the country in seeing a spell of warmer weather later next week, as this hot air from the continent extends northwards across the UK.
“We’re keeping a close eye on the possibility of severe thunderstorms developing later next week too, triggered by the warm continental air.”
The hottest temperature so far this year was 28.9C recorded in Scotland’s border region in May.