UK Weather: Driest May ever set to continue with 82F weekend

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Britons are set for scorching 82F (28C) sunshine this weekend in what could be the ‘driest May ever’, as odds are slashed on June being the hottest on record. 

Farmers are warning of an ‘extremely challenging’ season amid the early dry spell, saying some cereal crops are ‘already suffering’ from the sweltering heat.

The boiling conditions have also sparked concern from fire chiefs that undergrowth could explode into flames ‘just about anywhere’ as many regions have seen no appreciable rain for weeks. 

It comes as reservoir levels are being anxiously eyed as the UK’s countryside is rapidly becoming bone-dry and, while there are no plans for a hosepipe ban yet, water board bosses have urged people to ‘use water wisely’.

Meanwhile, thousands of sunbathers have been spotted cramming onto packed beaches in recent weeks, lying out their towels close to one another and flouting social distancing rules as lockdown is eased across the nation. 

Shocking photos show the devastating impact the UK’s lockdown heatwave has had on one reservoir – which is on the verge of totally drying up.

Jumbles Reservoir in Bolton, Greater Manchester, is normally full to the brim with hundreds of millions of gallons of water. But pictures taken yesterday show receded water levels and deep cracks forged into the bone dry desert-like landscape.

Just 14 per cent of the average rainfall has dropped in the North West this month, with only 11mm falling up to May 19. Experts predict the prolonged hot weather could lead to the driest May in over a century for some regions.

Between the start of the month and May 25, the UK has seen a staggering 103 per cent of its usual sunshine, according to the Met Office. 

As the weather continues to heat up, Boris Johnson is expected to announce further easing of lockdown restrictions tonight – limited mainly to outdoor activities, where the risks of spreading are far lower.

But people hoping to have friends round for a barbecue may have to wait a bit longer as the changes are not due to come into effect in England until next week.

North of the border Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today announced that up to eight people can meet up in their own gardens or parks from tomorrow.

And those seeking even hotter temperatures got a welcome boost from Health Secretary Matt Hancock who today said he ‘absolutely would not rule out’ foreign summer holidays being on the cards again from July. 

Meanwhile, the Country Landowners’ Association begged the public to take extra care following a spate of wildfires, including a huge blaze which devastated a forest on Anglesey off the North Wales coast early on Tuesday.

A spokesman said: ‘Warm, dry and settled conditions have elevated wildfire conditions. According to the latest figures from the Environment Agency, on average there were 24 dry days last month (0.2mm recorded rainfall or less a day) in the South East, and it was the sunniest April on record.

‘May has continued the trend, with just five per cent of the long-term average rainfall being recorded last week. The dry conditions are likely to continue over the next few weeks, with the medium-range forecast predicting a prolonged spell of above-average sunshine and below-average rainfall.’

The spokesman added: ‘Wildfires have the capability to devastate farmland, wildlife and also pose a risk to the lives of people living and working in rural and adjacent communities.

‘Wildfires can be prevented by not discarding cigarettes or other smouldering material. The same can be said for litter as quite often bottles and shards of glass can spark a fire.’

He said disposable barbecues for picnics in the countryside can also set light to tinder-dry undergrowth. ‘Barbecues should only take place in sheltered areas well away from combustible material, and properly extinguished afterwards.’

The mercury will widely hit 77F to 81F (25C to 27C) today and potentially 82F (28C) in more isolated spots, before reaching up to 84F (29C) tomorrow.

The Met Office’s Oli Claydon said the ‘warm and settled conditions’ are being brought about by high pressure just to the east of the UK, describing it as ‘homegrown heat’ with a ‘little bit of influence from the south’.  

He told MailOnline: ‘It’s certainly been a very dry spring and May for many parts, particularly England and Wales, even more specifically in south. There’s not a lot of rain in forecast between now and end of May so some regions could be on track for driest May on record.’ 

The forecaster predicted temperatures to reach 82F (28C) in some parts today, peaking at 84F (29C) tomorrow and slipping slightly on Sunday, but remaining warm and sunny.

He said: ‘As we go into tomorrow the highest of temperatures move slightly so northern Scotland for the highest temperatures, 26-28C (79-82F) likely in some parts, particularly Moray Firth area could see 29C (84F), due to a meteorological effect called the Foehn effect, which is to do with how the wind interacts with the ranges of hills and forces temperatures up in a spot on one side. 

‘More widely in terms of temperatures elsewhere, in the low to mid 20s, away from the east coast 25C (77F) to 26C (79F), potentially 27C (81F) in parts, highest temperatures in northern Scotland could see 29C (84F) potentially. London at 23C (73F).

‘It’s a fairly similar story for Saturday with north-west and potentially Moray Firth still up there, 26C (79F) up to 28C (82F) on Saturday, but widely 22C (72F) to 25C (77F) inland. 

‘Then for Sunday highest temperatures slip slightly so western parts of Wales for highest temperatures, north-west of England and western Wales 25C (77F) to 27C (81F) on Sunday. Widely still bright, sunny, settled conditions 22C (72F) to 24C (75F), London at about 25C (77F), so a little warmer.’ 

National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Deputy President Stuart Roberts said: ‘Many farmers are already feeling the effects of a dry April and May with some cereal crops already suffering from this early dry spell. 

‘The irrigation season has started early for some and it is fortunate that, as a result of widespread heavy winter rainfall, which was a problem for many, reservoirs were filled. At the moment there is generally good water availability from both groundwater and surface water sources, although these are being closely monitored.

‘With irrigators working flat out across the country, and in addition to the significant disruption caused by COVID-19, it could shape up to be an extremely challenging season for farmers and growers. 

‘Farmers are closely following predictions of possible hot, dry spells in the weeks ahead and what this could mean for water availability, especially with livestock now turned out to graze and harvest not far away.’  

Bookmaker Coral has slashed the odds of a record warm June to 5-4, and said it is 1-2 that there is a hosepipe ban anywhere in the UK this summer.

Coral’s John Hill said: ‘With a prolonged dry spell on the way, it would be no surprise if a hosepipe ban was enforced for many parts of the UK this summer.

‘There is a strong chance we could be set for a record-breaking hot summer, and it may well come early, as the odds on a record warm June have also been slashed.’

A spokesman for Water UK said: ‘There are no plans for any hosepipe bans this summer. It always worth using water wisely, though, especially at the moment when people are spending more time at home. 

‘Taking a few simple steps to save water reduces the stress on the environment and the water network.’ 

Meanwhile, BBC’s Matt Taylor forecast: ‘If your garden is desperate for rain at the moment – none in the forecast for the rest of this month and certainly out there today. A day of blue skies from dawn to dusk in many parts.

‘The only cloud that we did see across eastern England will have gone through the afternoon.’

Referring to conditions tomorrow, Mr Taylor said: ‘For most a sunny day, a little bit more of a breeze though coming from the east or south-east, so where the wind is off the sea, temperatures will be in the teens, most though widely into the 20s – 25C (77F) to 27C (81F) in the west, could hit 26C (79F) in the north-west of Scotland, a good 10-12C above where we should be for the time of year.

‘And with high pressure remaining across Scandinavia, the flow of dry air off the near continent, we’re keeping weather fronts and cloud at bay out in the Atlantic this weekend, so it’s going to be a sunny weekend.

‘That will certainly be the case on Saturday, strong sunshine across the board. What you will notice on Saturday though, a bit more of a breeze blowing across the country, and where that breeze is off the sea those easterly coastal counties and eastern Northern Ireland in particular, temperatures generally in the teens, most though into the 20s again, 27C (81F) or 28C (82F) possible towards the west.

‘Sunday maybe a little bit cooler across Scotland and some other eastern areas again with that breeze coming in off the sea, but warmest of all still towards western parts of England and Wales, where 26C (79F) or 27C (81F) is possible as the dry story continues into the start of next week at least.’