Exact date Brits to bask in first 'official heatwave of the year' as temperatures to soar above 20C

23 April 2024, 14:03 | Updated: 23 April 2024, 14:10

Temperatures are expected to heat up by the start of May
Temperatures are expected to heat up by the start of May. Picture: Alamy
Kieran Kelly

By Kieran Kelly

Brits are set to bask in the sun with the UK in for its first 'official heatwave of the year', a new forecast has suggested.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Temperatures are forecast to soar into the highs 20s, with it getting warmer from the end of this week.

It will then get even warmer at the start of the next month, just in time for the next Bank Holiday.

If temperatures stay around that level, it will officially become the first official heatwave in the UK this year.

WXCharts predicts a heatwave
WXCharts predicts a heatwave. Picture: WXCharts

A heatwave occurs "when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding a heatwave temperature threshold", according to the Met Office.

So if temperatures are above 25C three days in a row, for example, it will be a heatwave.

Read More: Exact date Brits to bask in 20C mini-heatwave as temperatures to soar just in time for Bank Holiday

Read More: UK prepares for two weeks of sunshine as temperatures set to soar to 25 degrees

The country could see "changes to warm to hot southerly winds from later this week [April 28] and into early May", said Exacta Weather's James Madden.

What does the Met Office say?

Temperatures are likely to soar by the start of the next month
Temperatures are likely to soar by the start of the next month. Picture: Alamy

According to the Met Office's long-range forecast, which runs from May 6 to May 20, temperatures are likely to get warmer.

While it may remain a cooler start to next month, temperatures will start to rise quite rapidly.

Temperatures are "likely to recover to around or a little above average as the period progresses", the Met Office predicted.

"Also worth noting that average temperatures themselves rise by around 1C per week at this time of year," they added.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Joe Biden (L), Benjamin Netanyahu (R)

US will stop supply of weapons to Israel if Rafah invasion goes ahead, Biden warns Netanyahu

John McDonnell and Mish Rahman have both questioned the move to accept Natalie Elphicke into the Labour party

Labour backlash after Keir Starmer welcomes former Tory Natalie Elphicke into party

Joe Biden

Biden says US won’t supply weapons for Israel to attack Rafah

Pro-Palestinian protests have been growing across campuses in the UK

Sunak warns university chiefs to protect Jewish students as pro-Palestine protests grow across UK campuses

Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara

Ex-interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani to plead guilty in betting case

Armed forces at the scene

Bomb squad called and more than 100 homes evacuated after 'suspicious items' found by police as two arrested

The Belem, the three-masted sailing ship bringing the Olympic flame from Greece, sails past a container ship decorated with the Paris 2024 logo when approaching Marseille, southern France

Olympic torch begins journey across France after festive welcome in Marseille

Germany Politics Violence

German politician attacked amid concerns over violence ahead of EU elections

Russell Brand has posted a new picture of him hugging Bear Grylls in the Thames

Russell Brand hugs Bear Grylls in the River Thames after being baptised in a bid to ‘leave behind his sins’

Secretary of defence Lloyd Austin speaks during a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defence on Capitol Hill in Washington

Pentagon chief confirms US paused bomb shipment to Israel over Rafah concerns

Lauren Wasser lost both of her legs

Model, 24, issues stark warning to all women after losing both legs due to correct use of tampons

Georgia Harrison was the victim of Stephen Bear's revenge porn

Reality star Georgia Harrison says leaked sex tape filmed without consent by Stephen Bear 'spread like a house fire'

Supermarkets have been warned they must start selling items at the appropriate price levels

Grocery stores caught charging wrong prices for everyday staples including coffee and crisps - see full list of items

Andrew Tate has been served with civil proceedings papers at his home in Romania.

Four British women sue Andrew Tate over rape and physical assault allegations

Charles and Harry are not going to meet

King Charles and Prince Harry at London events just two miles apart - but no hope for reunion between father and son

Exclusive
John McDonnell and Mish Rahman have both questioned the move to accept Natalie Elphicke into the Labour party

John McDonnell 'shocked' by Natalie Elphicke defecting to Labour, as top official brands party 'dustbin for far right'