Britons are set for scorching 82F (28C) sunshine this weekend in what could be the ‘driest May ever’, as odds are slashed on June being the hottest on record.
The mercury will widely hit 77F to 81F (25C to 27C) today and potentially 82F (28C) in more isolated spots, as lockdown restrictions are eased across the nation.
Temperatures could reach up to 84F (29C) tomorrow, with the sweltering conditions sparking warnings from fire chiefs that undergrowth could explode into flames ‘just about anywhere’ as many regions have seen no appreciable rain for weeks.
It comes as parts of the UK are predicted to be on track for the driest May yet, leaving water board bosses anxiously eyeing reservoir levels as the UK’s countryside is rapidly becoming bone-dry.
Sunseekers enjoy another day of warm weather on the beach in Bournemouth this afternoon, with more of the same expected over the weekend
Britons are set for scorching 82F (28C) sunshine this weekend in what could be the ‘driest May ever’. Pictured: Je Han and her daughter Sofie, four, walk through a field of poppies near the coastal fortress Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland
A dried-up Jumbles Reservoir in Bradshaw, Bolton, Greater Manchester. The United Utilities reservoir, which was completed in 1971, lies to the north of the town. In April the North West of England only received 30 per cent of the region’s LTA rainfall
Shocking photos show the devastating impact the UK’s lockdown heatwave has had on one reservoir – which is on the verge of totally drying up.
Jumbles Reservoir in Bolton, Greater Manchester, is normally full to the brim with hundreds of millions of gallons of water. But pictures taken yesterday show receded water levels and deep cracks forged into the bone dry desert-like landscape.
Just 14 per cent of the average rainfall has dropped in the North West this month, with only 11mm falling up to May 19. Experts predict the prolonged hot weather could lead to the country’s driest May in over a century.
Between the start of the month and May 25, the UK has seen a staggering 103 per cent of its usual sunshine, according to the Met Office.
Meanwhile, the Country Landowners’ Association begged the public to take extra care following a spate of wildfires, including a huge blaze which devastated a forest on Anglesey off the North Wales coast early on Tuesday.
A spokesman said: ‘Warm, dry and settled conditions have elevated wildfire conditions. According to the latest figures from the Environment Agency, on average there were 24 dry days last month (0.2mm recorded rainfall or less a day) in the South East, and it was the sunniest April on record.
‘May has continued the trend, with just five per cent of the long-term average rainfall being recorded last week. The dry conditions are likely to continue over the next few weeks, with the medium-range forecast predicting a prolonged spell of above-average sunshine and below-average rainfall.’
The spokesman added: ‘Wildfires have the capability to devastate farmland, wildlife and also pose a risk to the lives of people living and working in rural and adjacent communities.
A dried-up Jumbles Reservoir in Bolton, Greater Manchester, showing a boulder strewn shoreline and cracked mud. The area surrounding the reservoir is popular with walkers getting exercise during the coronavirus lockdown
The dried-up reservoir in Bolton, Greater Manchester. Only 11mm of rain has fallen in this month up to May 19, in what could be the driest May on records, as the sweltering conditions are set to continue over the weekend
The cracked mud can be seen fed by a trickle from a feeder at the dried-up reservoir in Bolton, Greater Manchester. Between the start of the month and May 25, the UK has seen a staggering 103 per cent of its usual sunshine
Jumbles Reservoir in Greater Manchester is normally full to the brim with hundreds of millions of gallons of water. But pictures, above, show receded water levels and deep cracks forged into the bone dry desert-like landscape
‘Wildfires can be prevented by not discarding cigarettes or other smouldering material. The same can be said for litter as quite often bottles and shards of glass can spark a fire.’
He said disposable barbecues for picnics in the countryside can also set light to tinder-dry undergrowth.
‘Barbecues should only take place in sheltered areas well away from combustible material, and properly extinguished afterwards.’
The Met Office’s Oli Claydon said the ‘warm and settled conditions’ are being brought about by high pressure just to the east of the UK, describing it as ‘homegrown heat’ with a ‘little bit of influence from the south’.
He told MailOnline: ‘It’s certainly been a very dry spring and May for many parts, particularly England and Wales, even more specifically in south. There’s not a lot of rain in forecast between now and end of May so some regions could be on track for driest May on record.’
The forecaster predicted temperatures to reach 82F (28C) in some parts today, peaking at 84F (29C) tomorrow and slipping slightly on Sunday, but remaining warm and sunny.
Two people walk around the loch at Linlithgow Palace, West Lothian, on a sunny spring morning. Bookmaker Coral slashed the odds of a record warm June to 5-4, and also said it is 1-2 that there is a hosepipe ban anywhere in the UK this summer
A general view of an entrance to a children’s play area in Blackwood, Wales, where restrictions on entrance remain in force since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The Government continues to ease the lockdown
A general view of a bowling green in Blackwood, Wales, being watered. Bowls in Wales is still a restricted sport since the start of lockdown, but is allowed to be played in England with certain social distancing restrictions
He said: ‘As we go into tomorrow the highest of temperatures move slightly so northern Scotland for the highest temperatures, 26-28C (79-82F) likely in some parts, particularly Moray Firth area could see 29C (84F), due to a meteorological effect called the Foehn effect, which is to do with how the wind interacts with the ranges of hills and forces temperatures up in a spot on one side.
‘More widely in terms of temperatures elsewhere, in the low to mid 20s, away from the east coast 25C (77F) to 26C (79F), potentially 27C (81F) in parts, highest temperatures in northern Scotland could see 29C (84F) potentially. London at 23C (73F).
‘It’s a fairly similar story for Saturday with north-west and potentially Moray Firth still up there, 26C (79F) up to 28C (82F) on Saturday, but widely 22C (72F) to 25C (77F) inland.
‘Then for Sunday highest temperatures slip slightly so western parts of Wales for highest temperatures, north-west of England and western Wales 25C (77F) to 27C (81F) on Sunday.
‘Widely still bright, sunny, settled conditions 22C (72F) to 24C (75F), London at about 25C (77F), so a little warmer.’
Bookmaker Coral has also slashed the odds of a record warm June to 5-4, and also said it is 1-2 that there is a hosepipe ban anywhere in the UK this summer.
Coral’s John Hill said: ‘With a prolonged dry spell on the way, it would be no surprise if a hosepipe ban was enforced for many parts of the UK this summer.
Sunrise at Hythe Marina on Southampton Water this morning. Britain has basked in warm temperatures and glorious sunshine over the past few weeks, but this could shift as low pressure looks set to move in on Monday evening
A general view of an exercise area in Blackwood, Wales, where restrictions on entrance remains in force since the srat of the pandemic. It comes as schools will open to reception, year one and year six pupils from June 1
The sunrise at Hythe Marina on Southampton Water this morning. The Met Office predicted temperatures to reach 82F (28C) in some parts today, peaking at 84F (29C) tomorrow and slipping slightly on Sunday but remaining warm and sunny
A map from the Met Office, pictured, shows tempreatures could reach 81F (27C). The sweltering conditions have sparked warnings from fire chiefs that undergrowth could explode into flames ‘just about anywhere’
‘There is a strong chance we could be set for a record-breaking hot summer, and it may well come early, as the odds on a record warm June have also been slashed.’
Meanwhile, BBC’s Matt Taylor forecast: ‘If your garden is desperate for rain at the moment – none in the forecast for the rest of this month and certainly out there today. A day of blue skies from dawn to dusk in many parts.
‘The only cloud that we did see across eastern England will have gone through the afternoon.’
Referring to conditions tomorrow, Mr Taylor said: ‘For most a sunny day, a little bit more of a breeze though coming from the east or south-east, so where the wind is off the sea, temperatures will be in the teens, most though widely into the 20s – 25C (77F) to 27C (81F) in the west, could hit 26C (79F) in the north-west of Scotland, a good 10-12C (50-54F) above where we should be for the time of year.
‘And with high pressure remaining across Scandinavia, the flow of dry air off the near continent, we’re keeping weather fronts and cloud at bay out in the Atlantic this weekend, so it’s going to be a sunny weekend.
‘That will certainly be the case on Saturday, strong sunshine across the board. What you will notice on Saturday though, a bit more of a breeze blowing across the country, and where that breeze is off the sea those easterly coastal counties and eastern Northern Ireland in particular, temperatures generally in the teens, most though into the 20s again, 27C (81F) or 28C (82F) possible towards the west.
‘Sunday maybe a little bit cooler across Scotland and some other eastern areas again with that breeze coming in off the sea, but warmest of all still towards western parts of England and Wales, where 26C (79F) or 27C (81F) is possible as the dry story continues into the start of next week at least.’