UK set for first 35C day of the year and forecasters say ‘it’s going to happen’

The UK could be set for its first 35C day of the year in an approaching heatwave, weather experts said. Jim Dale, senior meteorologist at the British Weather Services, said 40C was not impossible but not very likely, and 35C was much more achievable this summer.

Speaking to Express.co.uk, he said: “I still expect to see significant heat, especially in July and August, possibly extremes if we get those African plumes. There’s no reason not to, given record global temperatures in the air. and oceans.

“But, it will take highs and lows to be in the right position. The odds suggest it will happen, if only in spells. A stab in the dark, 35C (but 40 would be exceptional, again).” The Met Office currently has two medium to long term forecasts on its website.

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One lasts from May 23 to June 1, while the second stretches from the beginning of the sixth month of the year until the last two weeks. It said: “Most likely an unsettled start to the period with westerly showers and easterly showers, potentially heavy in the northeast, before a passing spell settles in later in the week.

“At the start of the bank holiday weekend, a band of rain, sometimes heavy, moves in from the west, becoming weaker as it moves east, becoming rainier in nature with scattered showers to follow. although rain may threaten NW areas early, while some southern or eastern areas are occasionally less settled with showers more likely later in the period, although there will be some sunshine in between, the best of these in parts from the southwest.

“Temperatures are likely to be slightly above average, but some large spatial differences are likely.” Its outlook for June adds: “Relatively subdued signals for conditions to be significantly different from the climatology through the first half of June.

“That said, both temperatures and precipitation are more likely to be slightly above average overall, with more rain or showers (possibly heavy/thundery at times) but also some spells of warm sunshine.”