Weather expert reveals when heatwave will hit UK as 'scorching hot temperatures' predicted

'Scorching hot temperatures' are heading for Britain with the mercury expected to climb in weeks. Brits could be basking in the sunshine soon as the mercury starts to rise as we approach the summer months.

Highs of 20C and more are already predicted for the UK during the first weeks of May. According to one weather expert, it is expected to get even hotter after that.

Brits could see temperatures 'well into the 30s' this summer. Jim Dale, senior meteorologist at the British Weather Services, said summer is still a 'long way off' but the UK was going 'in the right direction' for more pleasant summer days.

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He said climbing temperatures could be seen later this year, Express reports. Mr Dale said: "We have been through a very wet winter and early spring - record-breaking - and the expectation is that we would see a drier summer to even things out.

"In May, I expect the weather to still be choppy as we are coming out of this dull, changeable weather still, which has dominated winter and spring. We are starting to rev up through May into being a warmer month, a sunnier month - that adds up to more pleasant days.

"A lot of Europe is getting the scorching hot temperatures. Central Europe just had it. Eastern Europe is getting it at the moment. It was Spain earlier in the year.

"I would suggest we will share in some of that in the latter stage of May, and into June and July. We will see climbing temperatures well into the 30s in the prone areas. That is the expectation."

The weather expert said the chances of Britain breaking the 40.3C temperature record set in July 2022 was 'doubtful but still possible'. He pointed to the recent trends in the southeast as a sign that dry, sunny weather is on its way.

Mr Dale added: "You only have to look at the ground in the southeast. For the last two weeks it has been far drier than the previous two. We will see further rain bands in the next couple weeks but we are moving in the right direction."

He went on to say that April felt cold to many due to the lack of sunshine but the month was in fact 1C above the seasonal average. Weather maps from Netweather indicate a balmy 23C will be seen in London on Wednesday, May 8.

Across the south east of the UK, there could be temperatures in the 20s. The southwest will be in the high teens, while the temperatures are expected to drop to lower figures for the rest of the country - including 11C in northern England and 8C in Scotland.

The May warmth is expected to be interrupted by wet and cloudy weather.