London is set to bask in 30 degree heat this week as temperatures steadily rise following a wet and soggy first half of June. The capital experienced a heatwave in May, with record-breaking temperatures of 33.5C recorded at Heathrow on Monday, May 25. However, the searing heat of May was followed by an unusually cool and damp first two weeks of June, with average temperatures dipping back into the teens.
This Week's Weather Outlook
Today (Monday, June 15) will be a mild day with light rain showers and a gentle breeze, reaching no hotter than a moderate 22C this afternoon. But temperatures will rise several degrees on Tuesday, peaking at 26C. The warm weather will be sustained throughout the week, with highs in the late 20s on most days before reaching a peak on Friday, June 19, when BBC Weather predicts we will bask in 30C temperatures. There will, however, be bouts of drizzle during the week.
Will It Be a Heatwave?
Despite the comfortable warm spell, the sustained sunny period this week won't be classified as a heatwave, as temperatures must exceed 28C for three consecutive days to meet the official definition. A subtle change of one or two degrees could make all the difference.
Met Office meteorologist Honor Criswick said: "Things are set to turn gradually warmer this week, particularly across the southeast. It doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be dry though. We are expecting some cloud and some showers, if not some longer spells of rain at times this week."
She added: "Temperatures (on Tuesday) will be widely in the low 20s, but the highest temperatures across the southeast are reaching around 26 degrees Celsius in London. For the rest of the week, it's quite a similar picture... temperatures are going to be increasing day by day, especially across the southeast. This is where high pressure is starting to build this week and we start to bring in a slightly warmer plume of air."
Temperature Highs in London This Week
- Monday, June 15: Light rain and a gentle breeze, with a top temperature of 22C.
- Tuesday, June 16: Light cloud and a gentle breeze, with mercury rising to 26C.
- Wednesday, June 17: Clouds and a moderate breeze, with a peak of 25C.
- Thursday, June 18: Sunny intervals and a light breeze, with a peak of 28C.
- Friday, June 19: Sunshine and light winds, with a peak of 30C.
- Saturday, June 20: Sunny intervals and light winds, with a peak of 27C.
- Sunday, June 21: Sunny intervals and light winds, with a peak temperature of 28C.
