UK summer weather starts with cooler temperatures and thunderstorms
After what many across the UK experienced as one of the warmest and sunniest springs in recent memory, UK summer weather has kicked off with a very different feel. Instead of long evenings and dry warmth carrying into June, many parts of the country are starting the season with a damp squib – grey skies, gusty winds, and the occasional thunderstorm thrown in for good measure.
Temperatures this week are expected to sit around 2 to 4°C below what we’d usually see for early June. For reference, the average high for this time of year hovers between 15 and 20°C. Most of the UK will be staying on the cooler side of that, with parts of northern Scotland barely reaching 10°C, while the southeast might just about stretch to 19°C on a better day.
If you’re wondering what’s behind the change, it’s all due to the jet stream. This high-altitude ribbon of fast-moving air has shifted position, pulling low pressure systems in from the Atlantic and nudging aside the settled high-pressure weather that brought such a dry, sunny May. The result? Classic British unpredictability – sunny spells broken up by bursts of rain, some of which may turn heavy and thundery, especially across the north and west.
Still, not everyone’s complaining. For gardeners, growers and anyone who found themselves watching their lawns turn yellow last month, the rain is something of a relief. The ground has been parched, particularly in parts of southern England, and this turn in conditions might just give the soil the reset it needs.
Looking ahead, the picture remains mixed. Some thundery downpours are expected to develop mid-week, especially across England and Wales overnight Wednesday into Thursday. The brisk westerly wind will continue to blow in passing showers, but the good news is that, by their nature, they’re hit and miss – quick to arrive, quick to leave. Many areas, especially in the south, may still manage some decent dry spells between the showers.
By the weekend, and into next week, we’re likely to continue seeing this unsettled theme, with the Atlantic influence keeping things variable. However, there are hints of brighter, slightly warmer conditions building again in the second half of the week. Southern parts of the UK stand a better chance of seeing a return to sunshine first.
As for the rest of the summer, longer-range forecasts suggest it could still be a warm one overall, with an increased likelihood of heatwaves later in the season. So if your BBQ plans have been rained off for now, don’t stash the sun cream away just yet.
Longer-range forecasts from the Met Office’s three-month outlook suggest that, despite the cool start, the UK summer weather is still expected to bring above-average temperatures overall, with an increased chance of heatwaves later in the season.
For more updates on UK summer weather and how climate patterns are shaping London’s forecast, visit EyeOnLondon. We’d love to hear your views in the comments.
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