UK weather forecast: Thunderstorms due over weekend after Britain enjoys hottest day of year

Temperatures peaked at 25.8C in Kinlochewe, Scotland

Peter Stubley
Thursday 16 May 2019 06:23 EDT
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UK weather: The latest Met Office forecast

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Thunderstorms are due to rumble across the country this weekend after the UK enjoyed its joint hottest day of the year.

Temperatures hit 25.8C in Kinlochewe, Scotland, on Wednesday, matching the previous high set on 19 April in Treknow, Cornwall.

Forecasters predict a peak of between 22C to 24C on Thursday before the weather starts to cool overnight.

“Today is probably the last day of widespread sunny bright conditions,” said Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon.

“Temperatures will be a touch down on yesterday but could reach 22 or 23 or possibly even 24 degrees in far northwest Scotland.”

Scotland saw the best of the weather because the high pressure area over the UK was being squeezed north towards Norway, he added.

While the warm sunny weather will continue in Scotland on Friday, the rest of the country will see cloudy skies and showery rain into the weekend.

The Met Office predict sunny intervals with a temperature of around 17C for the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday.

“There is a chance of thunderstorms over the weekend, although this is unpredictable and is most likely in the south and east,” said Mr Claydon.

The long range forecast suggests temperatures for the rest of the month will be close to average for the time of year.

In early June the north of the UK is expected to enjoy the best of the sunshine and dry weather.

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“The most prevalent rain and showers will be across southern and central parts,” according to the Met Office forecast.

“It could be rather cool in these unsettled periods and particularly cool near the English east coast. The best of the sunshine and dry weather, as well as the highest temperatures, will be in the north, especially the northwest. However, these more prolonged settled and warm conditions will spread further south at times.”

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