Temperartures have to reach 28C during 3 consecutive days for a heatwave to be declared in London
After a weirdly chilly – and often quite wet – May, things are finally starting to look a bit more summery.
This bank holiday weekend (Saturday, May 23 to Monday, May 25) promises sunny skies and soaring temperatures, with the thermostat expected to hit 28C, or even 29C at a push. This means that, if these conditions last for more than three days on the trot (i.e. if the mercury rises to or above 28C on three consecutive days), a heatwave will be declared.
Bear in mind that these are the conditions for a heatwave to be declared in London and much of the rest of the south of England. Other parts of country – usually chillier ones – have different standards.
So, in essence, yes, it looks like we’re getting a heatwave, starting on Sunday and running through to Tuesday or Wednesday. Even if temperatures dip off slightly after that, the weather will still be pretty nice, with highs on Wednesday and Thursday of 26C or 27C.
After that, as well, the sunshine sticks about, but it won’t be quite as balmy, temperatures generally in the early 20s.
You can check out a breakdown of the next couple of weeks’ weather below (with temperature highs and lows in brackets):
Wednesday, May 20 (today) – light cloud and a moderate breeze (20, 10)
Thursday, May 21 – sunny intervals and a gentle breeze (23, 12)
Friday, May 22 – sunny and a gentle breeze (27, 16)
Saturday, May 23 – sunny intervals and light winds (27, 15)
Sunday, May 24 – sunny and light winds (29, 15)
Monday, May 25 – sunny and light winds (29, 16)
Tuesday, May 26 – sunny and a gentle breeze (29, 16)
Wednesday, May 27 – sunny and a gentle breeze (28, 15)
Thursday, May 28 – sunny and a gentle breeze (26, 13)
Friday, May 29 – sunny intervals and a gentle breeze (24, 11)
Saturday, May 30 – sunny and a gentle breeze (23, 11)
Sunday, May 31 – sunny and a gentle breeze (22, 11)
Monday, June 1 – sunny and a gentle breeze (21, 11)
Tuesday, June 2 – sunny and gentle breeze (23, 13)
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