London and the south set for 28C scorcher today but thunderstorms expected in Scotland
Hot continental air mass that sent mercury soaring into the 30s over the last seven days has moved off the east coast leaving cooler conditions behind
LONDON and southern England are set for the best of this weekend’s weather following a week which saw some of the hottest temperatures ever recorded in July.
The bout of warm weather which had everyone reaching for a cold drink was caused by a continental air mass that had formed in France and Spain over the last few weeks.
The balmy mass drifted north and settled over the UK for the last seven days with Brize Norton in Oxfordshire recording a sweltering 33.5C last Tuesday, the hottest anywhere in the country.
Cooler temperatures are expected over the next few days and next week with the mercury rising as high as 28C.
The south of the UK is set for the best of the conditions with weather maps showing rain and cloud in the north as well as thundery downpours in north-west Scotland.
Luke Miall, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said that today was likely to see “some outbreaks of rain in Scotland with thicker cloud extending across much of the west of the country and towards Northern Ireland.
“Some of that cloud is also infringing on parts of western Wales and the south-west of England as well. The further south you go, the less rain you'll find.”
He said that the rest of the country would be largely dry with hot sunshine expected in the south-east of England with the mercury expected to push as high as 28C in London.
“A wide swathe through the midlands and southern England could see temperatures in the mid-20s with the odd shower possibly breaking out in the lat afternoon.”
He explained that tomorrow would see rain developing in the south-west of Britain that is likely to move northwards over the day into Wales and Northern Ireland.
By the evening the rain could also arrive in northern England and western Scotland. He said: “Some of the rain could by heavy at times but for many it is just going to be a generally cloudier day with some showery outbreaks.”
The south and south-east are likely to see some decent spells of sunny weather with brighter conditions also expected in East Anglia too.
Temperatures there are likely to nudge 27C while the north and west of Britain are likely to feel cooler with the mercury remaining around the high teens.
“Overall not too bad a weekend, some rain at times, but the best of the dry and fine weather will be found further south.”
Monday is expected to see rain in the northern and western areas of Britain with “sunny spells and showers around on a day that is expected to be mostly cloudy”.
Similar conditions are also expected on Tuesday as well with rain expected in Northern Ireland and western Scotland by the evening.
It's also likely to feel cooler next week in comparison with the balmy temperatures of the last few days as the hot continental air mass which had everyone reaching for a cold drink moves away towards the east.
Luke explained that the continental air mass had developed over Spain and France over the last few weeks before drifting north and over the UK.
He said: “Given we had clear skies as well, it allowed temperatures to rocket. We saw 33.5C at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire last Tuesday which was the highest temperature we recorded anywhere in the country.”
He said that many areas in southern, central and eastern England recorded temperatures in the 30s and several areas in Wales also crept as high.
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