The hot weather is due to last throughout the bank holiday weekend and into next week. Brits will flock to beaches and beer gardens to soak up the wall-to-wall sunshine
Brits are set to bake on bank holiday as a half term heatwave nudging 30C hits the UK. The scorcher is expected to kick in from today (May 20) before ramping up across next week, bringing wall-to-wall sunshine, beach trips and beer gardens until at least June 1.
After days of chilly temperatures and washout conditions, forecasters say the mercury will rocket across much of England by Friday. London, Cambridgeshire and the South East are tipped to be hottest, with highs of 26C expected before temperatures climb even further next week.
Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said: “The best of the sunshine across the bank holiday weekend will probably be across England and Wales.
“Temperatures are still above normal, potentially very warm again. The bank holiday looks a lot better than what we’ve had over the last week or so.”
The sizzling conditions could even make Britain hotter than Ibiza.
Bookies William Hill make it an even-money shot that the UK beats the Balearic hotspot on Bank Holiday Monday. The bookmaker also reckons there is a 1/4 chance Britain ends up hotter than Sydney and Cape Town during the long weekend.
William Hill spokesman Lee Phelps said: “Brits planning on heading off to sunnier climes over the Bank Holiday weekend might have to unpack their cases, with a late spring heatwave heading the UK’s way. We’re expecting to see the mercury soar and make it even-money that the UK is hotter than Ibiza on bank holiday Monday.
“The UK looks set to sizzle, with it 6/4 that temperatures over 30C are recorded.”
Forecasters say the hot spell will start today with highs of 22C in the South East and 20C across much of the Midlands and northern England. Temperatures are then expected to rise steadily through the weekend.
The Met Office said warm and dry conditions would dominate for days. A spokesman said: “Through the following week, high pressure is expected to broadly remain in place for much of the UK, and fine weather is likely to continue for most of the country.”
While northern parts of Britain could see the odd shower, most of the country is expected to bask in sunshine throughout the bank holiday weekend and beyond.
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