The Met Office has issued a blunt response to reports that the UK is on course for a 40C heatwave. Forecasters say there are 'misleading' headlines about high temperatures around at the moment.
They have now released a #FactCheck to quash the reports about whether we could be in for another scorching summer. Experts at the Met Office urged people to look at their own long-range forecast as a reliable source for information, reports Gloucestershire Live.
Responding to 40C 'tropical blast' reports, it said this was 'not accurate' for the current forecast period. It said: "It's turning cooler and more unsettled for most through the weekend and into early next week."
READ MORE: UK weather: Met Office predicts mix of warm temperatures and scattered showers
And it added: "Temperatures will likely return to average in early May, which tends to be in the teens during the day for most."
And as a reminder, the Met Office tweeted: "It's not possible to forecast the highest temperature this summer at this range."
But there is some good news for people hoping for sunshine. According to the Met Office's long-range forecast, the end of May could see 'above average temperatures'.
Met Office long-range UK forecast
Sunday, April 23 to Tuesday, May 2
Unsettled conditions likely on Sunday, with showers or longer spells of rain for most areas. Some sunny spells away from more persistent areas of rain. Windy conditions expected further north. Into the start of the week, a north/north-easterly flow is likely across northern areas, leading to temperatures widely below average and the risk of a wintry shower.
Further south, there is more uncertainty with a chance of more organised rain at times but a mixture of sunny spells and showers for most. The risk of rain and wintry showers affecting northern areas will reduce through the period.
More settled conditions further south may be replaced by an increasing likelihood of cloud and rain. Temperatures below average early in this period but likely returning back to around average.
Thursday, May 4 to Thursday, May 18
A mixture of settled and unsettled spells are expected throughout the period. Most frequent rain more likely in the south at first, but through the period this will move to more western and northwestern areas.
There is a lower than usual likelihood of significant windy conditions. Temperatures likely to trend upwards through the period, with above-average temperatures more likely than below-average temperatures during early and mid-May.
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