Slap on the sunscreen, people, because us Brits are set for a scorcher of a day. In fact, we’re out-sunning Spain!
Temperatures may well hit the mid-20Cs today (Friday 5 May) and areas in the South East are expected to be hotter than Majorca.
Even better, the balmy weather will likely continue over the next few days, so grab your tinnies and get down to the nearest patch of grass, because we’re in for a belter of a weekend.
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Reporting on the well-timed bout of sunshine, The Mirror included a warning from Met Office meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth, who urged Brits to slap on the sunscreen before basking in any rays.
Shuttleworth said: “UV levels will likely be high. Some protection is advised, and long periods in the sunshine not recommended.”
She also told the paper that we’re likely in for a hotter-than-average May.
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“Average temperatures at this point in early May is about 17C for London and somewhere around 15C outside of that.
“It’s quite likely we’ll see those warm and much warmer than average temperatures across the UK,” Shuttleworth said.
The warmest weather of the year so far was recorded on 15 April in St James’s Park, London, with mercury hitting 23.4C.
It follows the news that the UK is in for a summer of heatwaves, with the Met Office’s new three-month outlook predicting sunshine a’plenty.
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The Met’s report, published earlier this month, states: “There is an increase in the likelihood of warmer-than-average conditions in the month ahead.
“Predictions are consistent in suggesting an increase in the likelihood of temperatures being above average overall.
“While this doesn’t necessarily mean heatwaves will occur, it does increase the likelihood of heatwaves compared to normal.”
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Speaking to the Daily Star after the outlook’s release, James Madden, forecaster for Exacta Weather, said: “There is now the potential for a major spell of warm weather to develop during the latter part of May or early June.”
The Met Office’s forecast for 5 to 14 May read: "Winds are generally light, with the chance of some stronger winds in the north. Into the weekend, cloudy conditions with the risk of rain in the north and northwest. Elsewhere mostly dry with sunny spells and a few showers.
"Into the following week generally settled conditions should prevail in the south, whereas in the north, conditions are more changeable. Temperatures are likely to be around or above average throughout, but cooler towards the north and near coasts."
Topics: Weather
Aisha Nozari