Brits could soon face scorching temperatures as high as 26C as weather forecasting maps reveal the mercury is set to surge – dozens of counties face 20C or above
Maximum possible temperatures (C) at 6pm on May 4(Image: WXCharts)
Temperatures could soon rise to 26C in some parts of the UK, weather forecasting maps suggest.
The data shows as many as 74 counties across England, Scotland and Wales will see temperatures rise to or above 20C at the start of May. Temperatures in Northern Ireland are only expected to reach 19C.
The GFS weather model shows temperatures will start rising on May 4, hitting 21C and 22C across large swathes of southern and central England. North Wales could also see highs of 21C at around 6pm.
The mercury is expected to keep rising throughout the week, hitting 24C in the south-east on May 5 as London gets the best of the heat. A few places in Scotland could hit 20C at 6pm, with highs of 23C possible in Wales.
Temperatures are expected to rise again on May 5(Image: WXCharts)
READ MORE: UK weather maps show 22C surge over 3 days as 24 counties face heat – full listREAD MORE: UK weather maps turn bright yellow for 21C scorcher on Saturday in 3-day heat blast
The warmest day will be May 6, according to the GFS model data, with highs of 26C in and around London. The Midlands, Yorkshire and East Anglia could all see highs of 24C or 25C. Temperatures are expected to be several notches cooler in Northern Ireland and Scotland though.
In total, the maps show 74 counties or county boroughs could see highs of 20C or above across this three day period. The south-east of England will see the hottest temperatures.
Temperatures could hit 26C on May 6, maps show(Image: WXCharts)
UK regions facing 20C or above in MayEnglandBedfordshireBerkshireBristolBuckinghamshireCambridgeshireCheshireCity of LondonCornwallCounty DurhamCumbriaDerbyshireDevonDorsetEast Riding of YorkshireEast SussexEssexGloucestershireGreater LondonGreater ManchesterHampshireHerefordshireHertfordshireIsle of WightKentLancashireLeicestershireLincolnshireMerseysideNorfolkNorth YorkshireNorthamptonshireNorthumberlandNottinghamshireOxfordshireRutlandShropshireSomersetSouth YorkshireStaffordshireSuffolkSurreyTyne & WearWarwickshireWest MidlandsWest SussexWest YorkshireWiltshireWorcestershireWalesIsle of AngleseyGwyneddConwyDenbighshireFlintshireWrexhamPowysCeredigionPembrokeshireCarmarthenshireSwanseaNeath Port TalbotBridgendVale of GlamorganCardiffRhondda Cynon TafMerthyr TydfilCaerphillyBlaenau GwentTorfaenMonmouthshireNewportScotlandRoxburghshireKirkcudbrightshireMorayshireBanffshire
Temperature anomaly maps show the mercury will rise well above the seasonal average at the start of next month(Image: WXCharts)
Despite the sweltering temperatures, this warm spell at the start of May is not expected to constitute an official heatwave. An official heatwave is declared when temperatures reach or exceed the heatwave threshold for three consecutive days.
The heatwave threshold varies from 25C to 28C across the UK. It stands at 28C in the south-east of England where temperatures tend to be warmer, and drops to 25C the further north you go.