UK heatwave 'right around corner' with Brits told 'pack away winter coat'

The United Kingdom has been given a strong chance of recording its highest temperature of the year so far next week, according to William Hill. Temperatures are forecast to climb in the first week of May, with the UK 5/2 to record temperatures of over 22C anytime next week.

Looking ahead to the rest of the month, the UK is 5/1 to smash the current record temperature for May of 32.8c in 1944. Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: “Many Brits have had to reluctantly turn back to their winter coats in recent weeks with temperatures remaining stubbornly low.

"But it seems those balmy spring evenings could be around the corner as we reach the end of April. The UK is 5/2 to see temperatures of 22c or higher next week – the hottest it’s been since last autumn – while it’s 5/1 that the current May record of 32.8c will be surpassed next month.”

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In a forecast from April 29 to May 9, the Met Office says: "The weekend's rain probably clearing east and northeast to leave a drier day on Monday, although the chance of showers and even thunderstorms remains.

"Cloudier, wetter weather is likely to quickly arrive into the west, and slide east across southern areas early next week, such that the majority of the week will be characterised by wetter weather in southern UK, drier weather in northern, especially northwestern UK, and a chance of rain or even thundery showers for a time in the east.

"Temperatures likely to trend upwards, with the chance of a warm to very warm spell in some southern and eastern parts, before conditions probably turn drier, cooler and more settled from the west towards the end of the period."

Its outlook from May 9 onwards adds: "In this period, the chances of unsettled weather are slightly less than usual in the north and about the same as usual further south. Therefore, some spells of wetter weather are likely for all, but perhaps especially southern areas with the driest conditions probably further north. Temperatures probably near average though with some cooler interludes possible. Also worth noting that average temperatures themselves rise by around 1C per week at this time of year."