UK summer has finally decided to make an appearance and will bake the country with the first heatwave of the year next week.
Fetch your sunglasses, flip flops and beach gear because the day we never thought would come is indeed nearly upon us.
The Met Office has predicted that a potentially grey start to the weekend will be completely burnt away by hot and humid weather from Sunday onwards.
Temperatures will soar to 29°C in London and some areas of the south east, while most of England will see highs of up to 27°C.
But do not despair if you’re in other areas of the UK, such as Cornwall, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland – it’s still going to be a balmy 22-24°C.
Met Office forecasters said some parts of central and southern England will reach potential heatwave levels with consistent sun until Wednesday, providing a welcome break from the bleak misery in 2024.
‘After a brief, less settled interlude today and tomorrow, fine conditions will return by Sunday and into the beginning of next week,’ said the Met Office’s deputy chief meteorologist Dan Rudman.
‘For much of the UK this will be accompanied by a boost in temperatures with many places reaching the mid-20°Cs.
‘Some central and southern areas are likely to see temperatures approaching the values needed for heatwave conditions.
‘Heatwave conditions need to remain in situ for three consecutive days, and by the beginning to middle of next week it is possible that some parts of the UK could be reaching heatwave thresholds.
‘However, whether or not everyone experiences heatwave thresholds, the majority of the UK will experience the highest temperatures so far this year.’
The arrival of a potential heatwave has prompted the RNLI to issue a warning to people planning on heading to the beach to stay safe when cooling off in the water.
Samantha Hughes, national water safety partner at the RNLI, said: ‘The forecasted warm weather will mean we’ll see more visitors at the coast and we always want people to enjoy themselves safely.
‘Entering the water during warm weather can increase the risk of cold water shock due to the sudden changes in skin temperatures. Enter the water gradually and avoid jumping or diving straight in to reduce your risk of cold-water shock.
‘If you’re planning on heading to the beach, we highly recommend you visit one that is lifeguarded and you swim between the red and yellow flags. This is the safest area and is most closely monitored by lifeguards.
‘If you get into trouble in the water, float to live. Tilt your head back with ears submerged and try to relax and control your breathing. Use your hands to help you stay afloat and then call for help or swim to safety if you can.
‘In an emergency at the coast, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard or ask for the fire service if you are near inland waters.’
The brief stint of hot weather is likely to be brought to a crashing end, however, with heavy rain and thunderstorms expected to hit by Tuesday night.
The Met Office added: ‘Although temperatures could reach a peak on Wednesday, it also looks like we may see the breakdown of this high-pressure from Tuesday night into Wednesday as things turn more unsettled.
‘With this breakdown, there is also the chance of some heavy showers or thunderstorms in places, with the most persistent rain likely in the west or south west.’
Oh, and you might want watch out if you suffer with hayfever because the pollen counts are through the roof.
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