A two-week heatwave is set to his Britain at the weekend with temperatures predicted reach the high 20Cs. Experts believe May will be the hottest on record since weather records began 353 years ago.
However, despite the hot weather pleasing much of the population, fears have been raised that drought-like conditions during the heatwave will damage crops and the environment.
Although some rain is forecast during the hot spell, it won’t be enough to stave off water shortages, leading Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman to call an emergency drought summit today.
Spelman will meet with members of the water industry body Water UK, the National Farmers’ Union, the Environment Agency and Natural England.
According to Positive Weather Solutions senior forecaster Jonathan Powell, Britain can expect more freak weather in the vein of March and April.
“This is an astonishing year so far and may well continue to turn up more surprises,” Powell said.
“May is outperforming expectations, as did March and April.
“There will be some rain during the rest of May in the north and west but not nearly enough to stave off drought concerns.”
Although cooler weather is predicted for this week, by Saturday forecasters believe temperatures will rise and 29C will be the average for the next two weeks.
The average temperature in central England this May has been 13C, putting it in the top six per cent of hottest months of May since 1659.
The Met Office said: “Conditions are expected to become mainly fine and settled from Saturday into next week, with an upward trend in temperatures and many areas likely to see warm sunshine.
“It looks mainly dry, although isolated heavy showers are possible from time to time. The relatively dry, settled weather shows signs of continuing into June, with daytime and night-time temperatures likely to be above average.”
Get more info about UK weather here: metoffice.gov.uk
