Met Office speaks out over 'imminent' UK heatwave forecast for May

James Rodger
·2-min read

The Met Office has spoken out over reports of a heatwave hitting the UK within days. In an update for the UK, the Met Office warned there is currently no "strong evidence" that a heatwave is on the cards for the country during the fifth month of the year.

The spokesperson for the Met Office said: "The pattern is that we will experience largely fine conditions this week, with a potential breakdown and return to low pressure from Sunday. Beyond that there is a mixed signal for a return to a pattern more dominated by high pressure but this isn’t strong, especially at this lead time.

"And there certainly isn’t strong evidence for heatwave conditions." It comes after British Weather Services and Exacta Weather hinted at an impending heatwave, amid reports from WX Charts, which uses Met Desk data, that highs of 28C could be coming.

READ MORE UK braced for heatwave later this week but only 'half' of England will be hit

But the BBC Weather team has warned, from May 13 onwards, it could be "wetter". The Beeb said: "There is a chance that similar conditions will prevail into the third week of May, as low pressure is more likely to stay near to the UK. More of a south-west to westerly flow of winds will prevail, bringing wetter and windier conditions at times, but also increasing the chance of temperatures staying above average.

"As the week progresses, low pressure systems may remain close to the UK or towards Iceland, so the changeable conditions are likely to continue. However, there is also a chance that high pressure could stay or rebuild near or over the UK, ensuring temporary drier and calmer conditions."

"There is a higher probability that similar conditions will linger into the fourth week of May, with low pressure surrounding the UK bringing wetter and windier conditions at times. Slightly cooler conditions may be established, with a westerly to north-westerly flow of wind, but, even so, temperatures could stay slightly above average," they added.

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