June Forecast: Britain To See Mini Heatwave With Temperatures Above Average

Britain is set to enjoy a mini-heatwave with above-average temperatures that could last until June.

Forecasters said that the UK will see the hottest day of the year on Thursday as temperatures soar to 25C (77F) in southwest England.

The Met Office said it could be warmer than parts of Morocco, which is experiencing below-average temperatures for this time of year.

Warm weather expected to last until June

(Photo : Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

According to its figures, the capital city Rabat is forecast to see 24C while Casablanca will likely hit 22C on Thursday, as per The Guardian.

Meanwhile, medium-range forecasts show that the warmer-than-average temperatures will continue until the end of May and into the first week of next month12.

Tom Morgan, an operational meteorologist at the Met Office, told the Telegraph: "Temperatures are going to rise day after day as days are getting lighter and lighter with more incoming heat from the sun as nights get shorter. The highest temperatures will be seen in southwest England, where it is expected to hit 25C on Thursday."

At this time of year, temperatures must hit 25C or 26C in southwest England for at least three days in a row to be officially classed as a heatwave.

Morgan said other parts of the UK will see temperatures in the low 20s as far north as southern Scotland.

But the east coast will feel cooler at around 16 to 18C as winds from the North Sea moderate temperatures.

Also read: UK Weather Forecast: Strong Winds Likely to Unleash This Week That Could Affect Travel Commutes

Sunny and dry conditions prevail in the south

The mini-heatwave comes after an April during which average maximum temperatures were generally above normal and the UK had about a third less rain than usual, as per Telegraph.

It is set to turn warmer over the next few days as high-pressure sweeps across the UK, with temperatures of up to 21C in southern England on Thursday and about 17C as far north as Aberdeen in Scotland.

Temperatures will drop slightly on Friday, although they could reach 20C in southern and eastern England with the weekend set to be dry and warm as high pressure dominates.

BBC Weather said the jet stream running across the UK early next week would result in wind and rain in the north and showers in the southeast, but it would still be warmer than usual for the time of year.

By midweek, there is the potential for very warm weather in the south, possibly nudging into the mid-20Cs.

The Met Office forecast is for widespread settled weather next week, with any rain confined to western and northern areas: "Temperatures are likely to rise above average through the first few days, except nearer to the coast and perhaps the far north, which may see slightly cooler conditions, and it is expected to become warm, perhaps very warm, later in the period."

There will be a change moving into the second half of May, with more unsettled conditions bringing spells of rain or showers.

"Drier spells are also likely, particularly in the south, as is typical for late spring. Temperatures will continue to be above average, especially in the south where it could be very warm early in the period. Further north a return to near normal conditions is possible later in the month," said the Met Office.

The UK's hottest day so far this year was Good Friday, when 23.4C (74F) was recorded in St James's Park in central London.

Related article: UK Weather Forecast: Possible Wintry, Rainy Conditions Likely to Unfold This Week