Met Office issues next heatwave verdict as temperatures set to soar to 25C in days

Met Office issues next heatwave verdict as temperatures set to soar to 25C in days Temperatures could soar to 25C next weekend following a spell of heavier rain, sunshine and showers over the coming days Temperatures could climb to 25C next weekend, as the Met Office warned of an "increased chance of heatwave conditions" over the next three months. While the UK is bracing itself for a spell of rain and showers over the coming days, conditions are expected to improve in time for the weekend. Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said there are signs of a warmer spell developing later in the week. He said: "There are hints as we go into the weekend we may well see a slight warming up. It's hinting at 24C for London on Saturday, at least into the low 20s, maybe mid-20s across the South East." Before then, conditions are expected to remain changeable, with rain moving south-eastwards across the country on Sunday evening, turning heavy in the north and west and accompanied by gusty winds. Showers will follow across Scotland and Northern Ireland, where conditions will also turn fresher. On Monday, the Met Office says rain will continue to sweep across southern and eastern England, turning heavy at times. Elsewhere, it will be brighter, with a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers, though feeling rather cool. Conditions are expected to remain cool and blustery on Tuesday and Wednesday, with sunshine and heavy showers, before the potential for more widespread rain returns on Thursday. Mr Snell said: "After quite a bit of a changeable week with some potential cold periods, when it settles down even 24C, 25C could potentially feel markedly warmer." According to the Met Office, maximum temperatures during the working week are expected to range between 17C and 18C across southern areas and between 15C and 16C in the north. By the weekend, temperatures are forecast to climb into the low 20s across southern Britain, with the South East potentially reaching 24C or 25C, while northern areas are expected to see highs in the upper teens. The warmer spell follows the Met Office’s latest three-month summer outlook - covering June, July and August - which said the chance of a hot summer is higher than normal and that there is an "increased chance of heatwave conditions developing at times". It comes after England and Wales experienced their warmest spring on record and the UK recorded its hottest May temperature to date. A climate attribution study published last summer by Met Office scientists found that the likelihood of surpassing the May temperature record has increased significantly due to the climate crisis. The study found that breaking the then 32.8C May record is around three times more likely in today's climate than it would have been in a natural climate unaffected by greenhouse gas emissions. What was once considered roughly a one-in-100-year event is now estimated to occur roughly once every 33 years.