UK could bask in major 32C heatwave next week - and could break 2023 record
The UK could bask in temperatures as high as 32C during a heatwave next week, it's been claimed.
The UK has had a mixed summer with extended periods of wet and miserable weather broken up by patches of sun and more settled conditions. Whilst July was one of the wettest on record, other parts of the summer months saw extended periods of temperatures touching 30C.
But even as the UK moves towards meteorological autumn, the country is seemingly set for one last blast of heat. Across next week temperatures are set to spike once more, and remain consistently high.
But forecaster Jim Dale has said that temperatures could come close to the highest the UK has experienced this year - 32.2C. Talking to The Mirror he said: “Forget the much-touted 28C, there’s every chance later this week that the UK’s highest 2023 temp so far will be beaten.”
This, he explained, was partly due to a number of tropical storms across the Atlantic, and stormy weather over the Iberian peninsula right now. These allow air pressure to rise over the UK, combined with a southerly airflow it leads to far warmer conditions than is normal for this time of year.
Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gustsBut Mr Dale also highlighted the areas most likely to benefit from this swell of warm weather and clear skies. He claimed that the south east and parts of the east of England, up to Lincolnshire would be best placed to benefit.
Ex-tropical cyclone Franklin is one of these storms. Along with the more threatening tropical storm Idalia, it marked the beginning of the US hurricane season this week. Whilst Franklin peaked at winds of around 130mph, it then drifted across the Atlantic, slowly losing power, and its designation as a tropical cyclone.
Met Office spokesperson Stephen Dixon also told the Mirror how the ailing cyclone would play a role in helping warm weather hit the UK. He said: “Franklin itself hit parts of America earlier this week but hasn’t been on land for a bit. It’s sat up in the Atlantic, a deep area of low pressure, and what these systems do is help to move air masses to the UK.
“This low pressure system is helping draw warmer air over the UK, the warmer continental air which will bring temperatures up to the mid-20s in parts of England and Wales. Initially, it’ll help develop the warmer conditions.”
After this, he explained how a bloc of high pressure would sit across the UK. There could still be a bit of drizzle in northern parts of Scotland, but settled conditions would settle quite widely across the UK.
Mr Dixon added: “Even as we move into meteorological autumn, the sun’s still got some strength so will still help the temperatures build day by day into the middle of next week.”