Three-day thunderstorm in the UK: Metropolitan Office issues alerted ahead of 27°C temperatures over the weekend as map reveals areas that may be affected
The Metropolitan Office warned that showers and potential thunderstorms will enter the south and west of the UK over the weekend.
The Metropolitan Office predicts that the highest temperatures will reach 27 degrees Celsius over the weekend, but always sends an alert to possible showers and thunderstorms.
It is expected that in most parts of the UK there will be plenty of sunshine and dry weather on Saturday, with 20°C lows and 24°C highs, east Wales, central areas, east Anglia and southern England.
But Saturday night brought about a change in the outlook.
While most areas will remain dry, longer spells will remain dry, lower pressures will bring waves of thunderstorms and possibly overnight into Sunday mornings in southwestern England.
A chief meteorologist at the Metropolitan Office warned that there could be “especially powerful thunderstorms” in Wales and parts of southern England.
The weather is expected to remain warm throughout the weekend, as temperatures may again establish an altitude of 26C to 27°C on Sunday and Monday.
The shower opportunity continues through Tuesday throughout the far south, but most parts of the UK will have a clear day.
The lower pressure of moving north brought the risk of thunderstorms overnight until Sunday morning in southwestern England.
A chief meteorologist at the Metropolitan Office warns that there could be “especially powerful thunderstorms” in Wales and parts of southern England
Deputy Chief Meteorologist Dan Harris said: “From Saturday night to Sunday morning, it is increasingly possible that rain, showers and isolated thunderstorms move northward in the southwest of the UK.
“ As we continue into Sunday and Monday, this will extend to the rest of the western part of the UK and to Northern Ireland.
“On Monday itself, we can see some particularly powerful thunderstorms developing, most likely in parts of Wales and southern England, while elsewhere throughout the period, dry, good and increasingly warm conditions are expected.
‘If these thunderstorms occur, especially on Monday, there may be 25-35 mm of rainfall dropping in about an hour, which may cause some localized surface water flooding.
“Hail, lightning and isolated strong wind gusts will be other hazards. The forecast will create exact uncertainty in this thunderstorm within this range, so please stay up to date with the Metropolitan Office’s forecast throughout the weekend, as well as any inclement weather warnings that may be issued.”
Earlier this week, forecaster meteorologist Simon Partridge said that despite the gradual warming of temperatures, there are still expected frost in rural areas with clear skies.
Temperatures are expected to rise over the weekend, with southern England and southeast Wales expected to enjoy high temperatures up to 24 degrees Celsius on Saturday and 26 degrees Celsius on Sunday.
Partridge said the warmest areas may see some localized heavy showers and “strange thunder” on Sunday.
The shower opportunity continues through Tuesday throughout the far south, but there will be another bright sunny day in most parts of the UK
Warm weather is expected to remain throughout the weekend as temperatures may be settling again on Sundays and Mondays at 26°C to 27°C
It was after the warmest start recorded in May in the UK, up to 29.3c in Kidd Gardens in southwest London last Thursday
On cold nights and warm days, he added: “It’s really a classic spring setting.
‘As the summer comes, the ground warms up as we get more and more sunshine.
“At the moment, we haven’t had long enough (sunlight) to make the ground temperature so warm that, so overnight, when we get these clear skies, the ground quickly lowers the temperature.”
He added that at this time of year, “maximum temperatures” between daytime highs and overnight lows are usually seen.
This is after last Thursday’s record at Kew Gardens in southwest London, with the warmest start in Britain at 29.3c.
The Environment Agency later warned that England faced the risk of summer drought after its driest start in 69 years, leading to lower reservoir levels and struggling with crops and wildfires.
The National Fire Service Commission (NFCC) said that fire services in England and Wales have responded to 464 wildfires so far this year, including in Dartmore and Elwood Valley in Dalby Hill, and called on the government to invest in fire services to address this “growing, year-round threat”.
The group warns that most wildfires are caused by human activities, including accidental and intentional fires, and dry weather can worsen the damage caused by the fire.
One person loves the warm weather in London Regent Park
NFCC Chairman Phil Garrigan said: “Wildfires are no longer seasonal hazards – they are a growing impact on climate change impacts, a growing threat to life, property and the environment.
Fire and rescue services must balance their response to an increasing number of extreme weather events while trying to maintain core emergency responses.
Without proper support, this is not sustainable.
“We urge the government to use the upcoming spending review to make long-term, ongoing investments in firefighting and rescue.
He added: “We cannot afford to firefight and rescue become forgotten emergency services.”
