UK temperatures are set to plunge after a glorious warm spell, during which the mercury hit 21.7C by Heathrow Airport in west London and even topped 25C last week
Brits should brace for temperatures as cold as 4C in less than one week, weather maps show.
A drastic temperature change of -12C will send Brits shivering – in late May – and rain will return to ruin the recent glorious spell of sweltering sunshine. The mercury topped 25C last week and, at the start of the month, 28C was recorded at Kew Gardens in southwest London, on what was the hottest day of the year so far.
But a colder front is moving in from the west, and it means temperatures are likely to tumble. Single figures are widely anticipated on Sunday May 25 – part of the last bank holiday weekend for three months – and rain will lash across parts of Northwest England and western Scotland.
Weather maps issued by Ventusky, which uses data from Metdesk, highlights this change. However, the Met Office also supports this theory. Mark Sidaway, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “The high pressure that has been around for the last few weeks will slowly lose its grip on the UK this week, bringing a change to more unsettled conditions with many areas seeing rain or showers, ending the prolonged dry spell.”
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It is likely north Wales and parts of Northwest England will be among the coldest areas on Sunday. Lows of 7C are expected in rural areas but, widely across these regions, the mercury will struggle to rise above 9C by midday at the earliest.
The green and blue tints on the weather maps indicate the coldest regions. They also include most of the Scottish Highlands, but also parts of the Midlands, such as Warwickshire and Northamptonshire. It will be single figures for the majority of the country and so the mercury will fall by around 12C from Monday’s high of 21.7C.
Mr Sidaway added: “The change comes this weekend, with weather systems moving in from the Atlantic, arriving from the west probably later on Friday and through Saturday. They will bring with them spells of rain, which may be heavy at times, with a risk of strong winds in places. These conditions will gradually spread across the UK on Saturday, with Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday likely seeing sunshine and showers.
“So, whilst the bank holiday won’t be a complete washout, with some sunshine expected, this weekend represents a notable shift from the fine and settled weather pattern that has dominated so far this month.”
Monday was pleasant, with 21.7C recorded at Heathrow Airport in west London and 20.3C confirmed in Leeds. It is believed today will also be particularly warm, with 21C expected across the East of England. However, the pollen count is anticipated to be medium to low all week, and drop further once the change in weather arrives on the weekend.