Met Office issues verdict over new heatwave hitting UK 'before end of May'

James Rodger

17 May 2024 at 1:54 am·2-min read

The Met Office has spoken out over reports a heatwave could hit the UK before the end of May. Early projections and predictions from the Met Office suggest there is little hope of the country smashing its current record high of 2024, which was 25.9C and recorded in East Sussex last weekend amid a balmy 72-hour heat blast.

But a weather chart presented in a Met Office Deep Dive video on YouTube suggests Saturday May 25 will be the day with the biggest hope of rising temperartures before the end of the fifth month of the year. But the Met Office says it "can't promise anything" and "there are hints" but nothing is "nailed on".

Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said: "We can't promise anything. There is not a strong signal, and that is often the case for this time of year, because it is May, because there is not a lot of contrast between the North Pole and the Equator, there is not a lot of power in the jetstream."

But he adds: "There are hints... hints of high pressure. There are some signs of high pressure but it is far from nailed on. It is weak, it is just slightly more chance than not of high pressure... There has been a bit of chatter about high pressure returning. We can't really talk about that at this stage.

"There are a few signals at the moment, but pretty weak signals." Giving a verdict for the UK today (Friday), the Met Office said: "Patchy low cloud, mist and fog at first. This soon clearing to leave a much brighter and warmer day than on Thursday with sunny spells and just isolated afternoon showers."

Any showers tending to fade away this evening to leave a dry night. Areas of low cloud developing once again with mist and fog possible in places. Staying generally mild, the Met Office said. Its outlook for Saturday adds: "Rather cloudy first thing but also some brightness in places. Sunny spells developing more widely by the afternoon but scattered heavy showers also forming. Feeling warm in the sunshine. "

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