UK set for 'hottest day of 2024 as Met Office confirms heatwave'

The UK is set for the hottest day of the year so far as a 'heatwave' will send the mercury soaring. The Met Office has said hot weather is predicted to sweep the country as early as next week

Most of the UK is expected to see 'the finest conditions and highest temperatures so far this year'. Some areas could even see sizzling highs of 30C.

The sunshine is set to arrive early next week, with many areas forecast to reach the mid-20Cs. But heatwaves are predicted in central and southern parts of the UK.

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It comes after there was 32 per cent more rainfall than the average in England and Wales - making it the fifth wettest for England and the eighth wettest for Wales, the Met Office said. Dan Rudman, Met Office deputy chief meteorologist, said: "After a brief, less settled interlude on Friday and Saturday, fine conditions will return by Sunday and into the beginning of next week.

"Whether or not everyone experiences heatwave thresholds, the majority of the UK will experience the highest temperatures so far this year. Confidence in the forecast reduces markedly from Wednesday onwards, with uncertainty in both how long the heat will last and how it will break down, which we will be keeping an eye on for the coming days.

"However, by next weekend, cooler, changeable conditions become more likely." The heat is only expected to last until Wednesday, June 26.

Heavy showers, thunderstorms and persistent rain could return. The wet weather has been arriving from the Atlantic, with a high-pressure system expected to bring it to a temporary stop for a few days.

Operational meteorologist Honor Criswick said: "As we’re pushing into next week we’re starting to see the hotter spells, but it is going to be quite brief. It will be a brief hot spell, but perhaps a beginning to summer which I’m sure many people have been waiting around for."

Despite the wet weather, it has been the warmest May and Spring recorded in the UK. The average temperature has been 13.1C, beating the previous 2008 record of 12.1C.

Ms Criswick said 'a lot of people couldn’t believe it when the spring stats came in', but added they were largely influenced by higher overnight temperatures.