UK weather: ‘short but quite intense’ hot spell forecast this weekend | UK weather

A short-lived but intense spell of hot weather is expected to hit the UK this weekend, with temperatures likely to reach 33C (91.4F) in parts of the country as forecasters warn severe thunderstorms may also be on the way.

Warm air would move up from Europe on Saturday and through Sunday and Monday, before temperatures dipped again on Tuesday to average levels for this time of year, the Met Office said.

Temperatures are expected to climb to the high 20s and low 30s in England and Wales, with high teens and low 20s forecast for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Storm Debby, which battered parts of the southern US this week, will contribute to the heat by shifting the jet stream – a current of strong winds in the atmosphere that has a significant influence on UK weather – farther south.

But severe thunderstorms and periods of heavy rainfall were also possible in parts of the UK over the weekend, and Debby’s interference could bring unseasonable winds to some western areas, the forecaster warned.

Friday will get off to a wet and cloudy start across the south and east of England before drier weather brings sunny spells across much of the country as the day progresses and temperatures warm up.

The Met Office spokesperson Nicky Maxey said: “The hot spell is short-lived but quite intense… Temperatures are due to peak on Monday and rapidly return to average on Tuesday and Wednesday.”

Much of the country will be cloudy and humid on Saturday morning with brighter spells and light showers in the north.

Sunseekers will be happy to hear that this drizzly and overcast weather is expected to clear throughout the day with the mercury rising into the 20s across England and Wales as the evening approaches.

Sunday and Monday are expected to be the warmest days with highs of 33C in London, 26C in Manchester, 22C in Glasgow and 21C in Belfast. But outbreaks of heavy rain and thunderstorms may accompany the heat in central and northern parts of the country.

The high temperatures will bring a rise in pollen count throughout the country, along with high UV levels. The Met Office recommends covering up during midday hours and wearing sunscreen.

According to Maxey, short spells of warm weather are not unusual and this is not considered a heatwave as temperatures would need to exceed a specific threshold over three consecutive days to meet the criteria.