Met Office and BBC Weather verdict on heatwave next week as highest temperatures of the year expected

Forecasters are predicting the highest temperatures of the year next week in the UK - and the Met Office and BBC Weather have had their say on the chances of an official heatwave.

Mercury levels are expected to hit the mid-20Cs next week while some isolated weather stations could record highs of 30C. Brits are thankfully set to bask in a belated burst of summer as the soggy June weather makes way for a warmer end to the month.

While we're not expecting the scorching highs seen across the pond in the US and Canada, the UK is gearing up for a much-needed respite from the early June chill. According to the Met Office, there's a "small chance" that this settled spell "could persist for several days" leading to a spell of hot weather with winds from the south or southeast.

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But is Britain really on the brink of a heatwave? Met Office expert Grahame Madge has weighed in amidst widespread speculation about potential heatwave conditions in parts of England and Wales.

He said: "There is a specific threshold for a heatwave and it is unlikely that all of Wales will reach that threshold. However, regardless of the precise definition, people across Wales will enjoy a largely fabulous weekend and extended period of fine and settled weather well into next week."

BBC forecaster Simon King has also been asked the question several times. He posted on X: "Is a heatwave on the way? Maybe.

"Remember there's a criteria that needs to be met depending on where you live, but with temperatures up to the mid to high 20s early next week...it'll be close to the heatwave threshold for some."

The Met Office forecast for Lancashire at the start of next week says: "Largely dry with variable cloud and bright or sunny spells on Sunday. Mostly fine and dry, with bright or sunny spells Monday and Tuesday. Rather warm and humid too."

The long-range forecast for June 25 to July 4 reads: "Predominantly fine and settled at first for much of the country and much warmer than we have seen in recent weeks. However, some thicker cloud could bring some outbreaks of mostly light to north-western areas.

"There is some uncertainty in how long this warm, settled weather will persist over the UK and there is a chance that conditions could transition back closer to average towards the end of next week. This transition brings with it the risk of some showers or longer periods of rain and potentially some thunderstorms, particularly in the south, from the end of next week.

"However, the remainder of the period is more likely to be settled with temperatures above average."

According to the Met Office a heatwave is an extended period of hot weather relative to the expected conditions of the area at that time of year, which may be accompanied by high humidity. A UK heatwave threshold is met when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold.

The threshold varies by UK county. The Met Office says: "Heatwaves are most common in summer when high pressure develops across an area. High-pressure systems are slow-moving and can persist over an area for a prolonged period of time such as days or weeks.

"They can occur in the UK due to the location of the jet stream, which is usually to the north of the UK in the summer. This can allow high pressure to develop over the UK resulting in persistent dry and settled weather."