London to Sizzle at 26C in Seven-Day Sunshine Spell for Bank Holiday

London is set to enjoy a scorching bank holiday weekend with temperatures soaring to 26C, forecasters have confirmed. Even better, the capital is expected to bask in seven consecutive days of sunshine before the month ends, making it feel like the Costa del Sol.

This welcome change comes after recent bouts of hail, heavy rain, and lightning strikes across the city. According to BBC meteorologists, a rapid warm-up will begin on Friday, May 22, with thermometers hitting 26C by around 4pm under a mix of uninterrupted sun and some cloud.

Weekend Weather Breakdown

Saturday will see almost identical conditions, followed by clear blue skies on Sunday morning. The capital will enjoy over 12 hours of sunshine throughout the day, with temperatures dropping to a mild 16C overnight. Bank Holiday Monday, May 25, promises even brighter weather, though some light cloud is expected.

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While the BBC forecasts 25C for Monday, a map from Netweather suggests a toasty 27C at around 3pm. Residents are encouraged to make the most of the outdoors, as Tuesday may bring patches of light rain.

Why the Warm Weather?

The fair, warm conditions are due to high atmospheric pressure, the Met Office said in its long-range forecast. This pattern is likely to affect much of the UK, so packing sunglasses for bank holiday staycations is advisable.

Looking Ahead to June

The Met Office believes fair weather will dominate into June. The long-range forecast states: "Rain and showers are possible at times, mainly across Northern Ireland and Scotland, but the main emphasis remains for fine and dry weather for most places. As we head towards mid-June, more mixed conditions are likely with spells of rain and showers."

Drier weather is expected between wetter spells, with these drier interludes lasting longer across the south and east of England. Temperatures are likely to be near or slightly above average overall, with some warm or very warm weather possible. The average June temperature observed at the Greenwich Observatory weather station is 21.37C.