Sunshine and warmer temperatures are set to return to various parts of the UK this week, with some areas expecting highs of around 20C, as indicated by new weather maps. A mini-heatwave could be on the horizon by Thursday, April 16, with WXCharts forecasting clearer skies and increasing warmth across large areas of the country. The South East is likely to experience the highest temperatures, with Kent leading the way and Canterbury anticipated to reach 20C.
According to the Met Office forecast for Wednesday to Friday, Wednesday may bring showers or persistent rain with brisk winds, but it could feel warm during brighter intervals. Thursday is expected to see a mix of sunshine and showers, while rain is predicted to move in from the west on Friday.
Weather conditions are expected to vary across the UK, with intervals of sunshine mixed with showers in some regions. While the South East is expected to enjoy the warmest weather, other areas may see temperatures in the mid to low teens.
Looking ahead to Friday, the Met Office suggests that the southeast will likely be drier and brighter. Conditions may become more settled towards the end of the period, particularly in the north or northwest, although the south could experience showers or longer periods of rain. Overall, temperatures are expected to be near or slightly above average.
Despite the upcoming warmer weather, the Met Office clarifies that these conditions do not meet the criteria for an official heatwave. They explain that an official heatwave is declared only if temperatures reach or exceed specific thresholds set for each UK county, for a minimum of three consecutive days.
The rise in temperatures follows a remarkably mild March, which provisional Met Office data ranks as the 10th warmest on record. Wales experienced its joint fourth warmest March, while England had its joint sixth warmest since 2017.
Dr. Emily Carlisle, a Met Office Scientist, commented on the provisional data, noting the notably warm weather in England and Wales during March, along with adequate sunshine and near-average rainfall. She highlighted the month’s mix of weather patterns across the UK, which included some unsettled spells and even instances of snow, typical for the transitional month of March.
