Heatwaves are expected in parts of the UK next week following a grey start to the weekend. Forecasters predict a cloudy Saturday with showers and warm temperatures in southern and eastern England, while Sunday should be generally pleasant across most regions.
Next week, temperatures are anticipated to rise into the mid-20s, potentially reaching heatwave conditions in central and southern England. However, from Wednesday onward, unsettled weather may bring heavy showers and thunderstorms.
This shift to warmer weather coincides with a surge in visits to the NHS website for hay fever advice, which has more than doubled this week.
On Monday, temperatures could hit 27°C in northern England and 28°C in the south and southeast. Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong noted that some areas may approach heatwave thresholds, which require temperatures to stay high for three consecutive days.
NHS sees surge in hay fever website visits amid upcoming warmer weather.The upcoming weekend will start grey, with cloud cover and light rain or drizzle, transitioning to showery conditions as it moves eastward. Temperatures are expected to range from the high teens to low 20s on Saturday evening. By Sunday morning, more cloud and drizzle may affect Wales, central, and southern England, but sunnier conditions are likely to follow for the rest of the day.
Met Office spokesperson Andrea Bishop explained that the warm weather is due to high pressure moving in from the southwest, replacing the cooler jet stream that had previously dominated. This change is expected to bring the warmest weather of the year so far.
NHS England reported a significant increase in visits to its hay fever advice page, with daily visits jumping from an average of 4,749 to 11,736 this week. Hay fever symptoms are often most severe from March to September, during high pollen seasons with warm and humid conditions.