London heatwave June 2022: what temperatures can we expect - as weather forecast predicts warm weekend

Temperatures are set to exceed 30C today in London
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Temperatures are set to soar in the UK, with experts predicting the temperature could reach as high as 35C, which will eclipse temperatures seen in countries such as Portugal and Jamaica.

This wouldn’t be the first time that the UK has surpassed the temperatures of notoriously hot countries, as back in March a small period of hot weather saw temperatures higher in the UK than places such as Ibiza.

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With a relatively mild year so far, temperature wise, the hottest day of the year so far was in May, as London’s Heathrow Airport recorded a temperature of 27.5C.

People enjoy the warm weather in Green Park, London (Photo by ISABEL INFANTES/AFP via Getty Images)People enjoy the warm weather in Green Park, London (Photo by ISABEL INFANTES/AFP via Getty Images)
People enjoy the warm weather in Green Park, London (Photo by ISABEL INFANTES/AFP via Getty Images)

Will there be a heatwave in London?

Regarding the news surrounding the possibility of a heatwave, the Met Office has said: “Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Dan Rudman, said; “Temperatures will rise through the week, becoming well above-average by day by Friday when many parts of the southern half of the UK are likely to reach 30C or even 33C in isolated spots.”

“This is the first spell of hot weather this year and it is still unusual for temperature to exceed these values in June. Many areas will also see some warm nights with temperatures expected to be in the mid to high teens overnight.”

What temperatures can we expect?

At the peak of the hot weather in London, the highest temperature will be 32C on Friday, 17 June at 2pm.

What is the weather usually like in June?

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Despite being just a month or two away from what is usually the hottest part of the year in the UK, it is unusual for temperatures in June to go past 30C.

From when records began in 1884, there hasn’t been a hotter day in June than 1976, when 35.6C was reached at Southampton Mayflower Park on 28 June.

What is the criteria for a heatwave?

There is a threshold that has to be met in order for the Met Office to officially recognise a period of weather as a heatwave.

They say: “A UK heatwave threshold is met when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold. The threshold varies by UK county.”

What has been the hottest day of the year so far?

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You won’t have to go back far to find the hottest day of 2022 in the UK, as it happened just under a month ago on 17 May. The highest temperature of the year so far was at Heathrow Airport, who recorded a temperature of 28C.

What is a heatwave?

In short, a heat wave is, as per the Met Office: “A heatwave is an extended period of hot weather relative to the expected conditions of the area at that time of year, which may be accompanied by high humidity”.

Are heat waves connected to climate change?

According to the Met Office, heat waves over the last few decades “can be attributed to human activity”.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency says: “As the Earth’s climate warms, however, hotter-than-usual days and nights are becoming more common and heat waves are expected to become more frequent and intense.”