The Met Office has given its verdict on reports that the country faces a ‘flaming June’ with temperatures blasting past 30C. According to some reports the country is going to be sweltering next month with Brian Glaze, chief forecaster at The Weather Outlook, told the Daily Express that for “several days”, computer models suggested temperatures “will be climbing as we head towards the end of the month”.
He added: “The consistency means that although it isn’t certain to happen, confidence levels in a warm-up as June approaches are increasing. Mr Glaze predicted that updates show the chances of temperatures peaking at between 21C and 25C “to be over 50% by the end of May and in early June”, and that there was a chance that Britons could bake in highs between 26C and 30C.
He added: “The chance of them climbing to between 26C to 30C is lower, at around 10%, but it is worth keeping an eye on how things develop as the time approaches.”
Now the Met Office has looked at the forecast and said there is a good chance that temperatures will be higher than average in June. A spokesman said: “As we transition from meteorological spring to meteorological summer at the end of May the sun will get even higher in the sky each day and the seas will continue to warm and therefore there is the potential for temperatures to rise.
“The average maximum temperature for June in the South East of England is around 20-21C, and of course some days will reach higher values than this. There isn’t a strong signal that would allow us to forecast a hot spell at this lead time, but it is feasible. Although as other reports note the probability of this is low. We would agree on that.
“Climatologically, there is always the chance of an occasional hot spell during summer.” The forecaster offers more hope in its contingency forecast for May to July saying: “This Outlook suggests the chances of heatwaves are higher than normal.”
And the Met Office has said that June is set to get higher than average temperatures. For the period from June 2 - 16 it says: “Largely fine conditions are expected to continue during this period, particularly for the central and northern parts of the UK. There is an increased risk of rain and showers further to the south, especially southeast England, as the period progresses. Temperatures are likely to remain a little above normal for this time of year; however, the far southeast of England may be closer to average.”
