Yahoo News Mini-heatwave 'increasingly likely' with North Wales basking in Azores plume
The weather is set to change gear after a dull and chilly start to summer. Weather maps show temperatures may surge next week as the UK basks in its second mini heatwave of the year.
By the end of the month, mercury gauges could "exceed 30C" in southeast Britain as a plume of warm air from Africa washes over the country. Forecasters predict another hotspot will be in Yorkshire, northwest England and northeast Wales, with temperatures hitting 27C or higher.
Several weather models show the warm spell building at the start of next week and peaking on Sunday, June 30. The heat will then start ebbing away to be replaced - in some places - by a damp but not cold start to July.
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Experts at Netweather.tv expect the spell to be broken by a “thundery breakdown” as low-pressure fronts collide with hot air. For the week June 24-30, the forecaster said: “At the beginning of this week, we will see a ridge of high pressure move into southern Britain, breaking off from the Azores High.
“Towards midweek, the ridge of high pressure will likely move into the North Sea and north-western Europe generally, with a trough forming in the eastern North Atlantic, giving Britain southerly and south-westerly winds. As a result, we can expect plenty of dry, sunny weather for most of England during the first half of the week, especially in the east and south.”
“Temperatures will rise above average for the time of year, and it is forecast to become hot in most parts of England, with the potential for maximum temperatures to exceed 30C for a time in the southeast. However, it looks unlikely that much of the extreme heat over North Africa will get as far north as the British Isles.”
West Wales is expected to be slightly cooler, but still very pleasant. Rain is forecast to be in short supply – though this could end abruptly in places with thundery downpours late in the week. Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone
Medium-range forecasts are notoriously tricky and the Met Office is more circumspect in its predictions. It said a drier, warmer spell looks “increasingly likely” at the start of next week, adding: “There is a small chance that this could persist for much of the rest of the period, turning increasingly hot.
“Generally settled, and warmer than average conditions appear most likely. However by mid-next week a large range of outcomes also become possible, which also include a small chance of colder, more unsettled weather.”
There are also mixed signals for the start of July – the Met Office said there are currently few signs of one type of weather pattern to dominate. Netweather.tv said the presence of an Atlantic trough lying very close to Britain could bring wetter weather to western UK.
With the wind coming from south or south-west, the forecaster said it will “probably be warmer than average”, mainly over eastern Britain. Elsewhere, temperatures will be around the seasonal average. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
The Met Office is hedging its bets for the start of July. “Typical conditions for the UK are most probable with a mixture of weather types,” it said. “All areas can expect to see some spells of drier, sunnier weather, but there will also be showers or longer spells of rain at times.”
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