The Met Office has confirmed that temperatures in Gloucestershire are set to rise to 26°C on Friday, May 22, promising a wave of warm weather just in time for the late May bank holiday weekend. While this surge hints at a pleasant spell of warmth, it stops short of officially declaring a heatwave.
Forecasters based in the South West predict a rise in temperatures from cooler mid to high teens throughout most of the week, culminating in a significant jump by Friday afternoon. Despite expectations of sunshine and light winds on Friday, the start of the week will see cloud cover and some rain, contrasting with the warmer, drier conditions anticipated later.
High pressure is expected to settle over the region by the weekend, bringing stable, clear skies and temperatures climbing into the mid-20s. Specifically, Gloucester should see temperatures reaching 20°C by 10 a.m. and peaking at 25°C by 4 p.m., with mild conditions continuing into the evening.
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Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill explained the cautious approach to declaring a heatwave on a recent YouTube briefing. He noted, “The uncertainty is due to pinpointing exactly where the high pressure system will position itself by week’s end. Although we’re heading into a bank holiday weekend, and high pressure usually stabilizes the weather, it’s tricky to forecast exactly how warm it will get.”
He added that despite the current cooler-than-average temperatures for May, there are clear signs of warming ahead. The Met Office anticipates that high pressure moving across southern England will create fine and dry conditions, with temperatures exceeding seasonal norms from May 21 to May 30.
To officially classify a heatwave, temperatures in Gloucestershire must reach or surpass 27°C for at least three consecutive days. While the forecasted 26°C on Friday falls just short of this threshold, residents can still expect a welcome burst of warmth as the bank holiday approaches.