Exact date weather maps burn red as forecasters issue heatwave verdict

20 June 2024 , 04:58

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The UK is set for a heatwave in a matter of days (Image: Amer Ghazzal/REX/Shutterstock)

A heatwave could be on the horizon for the UK as early as next week – after a miserable start to the summer compared to last year's record-breaking June.

This year's cooler temperatures were down to cold northerly winds from the Arctic, but conditions are set to change as weather maps turn a blistering red - with temperatures climbing to 25C in some parts of Britain. Ahead of the weekend, a high chance of warmer and more settled weather is expected, with southerly winds bringing hot, continental air and a rise in temperatures.

As early as next week, there will be around a 20% chance the country will see heatwave conditions developing. Weather maps by WXCharts show the UK turning bright red as early as Monday, June 24, with temperatures peaking at 25C in the south east, according to the Met Office. Temperatures for the remainder of this week may potentially creep up above average, although nights could still remain chilly.

Temperatures will peak at 25C in the south east on Monday (WXCHARTS)

In the UK, a heatwave is defined as a prolonged period of abnormally high temperatures, relative to the expected conditions at that given time and place. The Met Office has set specific temperature thresholds for each county in the UK. If the daily maximum temperature meets or exceeds this value for three consecutive days, it's classified as a heatwave.

These threshold values vary from 28C in London to 25C in northern England, Devon and Cornwall, Scotland, Northern Ireland and most of Wales. Chertsey in Surrey nearly reached its 28C threshold back in May, with temperatures soaring to 27.5C - marking the highest temperature of 2024 so far.

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According to the forecaster, today's weather will be "often cloudy and breezy" in the far northwest with some patchy rain. Elsewhere, there will be lighter winds and warm spells of sunshine, with a chance of showers in the southeast later on. Looking ahead from Friday until Sunday, there will likely be some rain in the north and west on Friday, and potentially the far southeast.

Brits elsewhere will be basking in sunshine as temperatures slowly rise. There will be some isolated showers, but the weather will be "mostly fine" this weekend, with "very warm" conditions experienced in the sunshine, the Met Office said.

Zahra Khaliq