Will UK get heatwave next week? BBC Weather expert gives verdict

With temperatures set to steadily increase across the UK, many of us holding out for a long-awaited heatwave.

Parts of the UK are set to see highs of around 20C over the next few days. Meanwhile, more settled and warmer conditions are expected to continue throughout parts of next week.

While the conditions for a heatwave seem to be falling into place, current forecasts still suggest otherwise. This is because small periods of hot weather do not necessarily equate to an definitive heatwave.

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Lead BBC weather presenter Simon King told his followers 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 20's early next week...it'll be close to the heatwave threshold for some."

The threshold that constitutes an official heatwave is any 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. Therefore, 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.

For the north of England, the threshold is 25C. For most of southern England, it's between 27 and 28C.

Next week in Manchester, the Met Office is currently forecasting highs of 24C from Monday to Wednesday, with dry and sunny conditions. In London, it is expected to be peaking at around 27C on Wednesday, with sunny conditions expected throughout.

Heatwaves are common during British summers and are generally caused by a jet stream from the north of the UK. Because of this, high pressure develops over the rest of the country, resulting in frequent and sustained dry and settled weather conditions, according to the Met office.