The United Kingdom is preparing for a significant change in weather conditions, with temperatures expected to climb well above average this weekend after several days of rain, thunderstorms and unusually cool conditions.

Forecasters say a strengthening area of high pressure will bring drier, sunnier and increasingly warm weather across much of the country, raising the possibility of the warmest temperatures seen so far this month.

Storms and Heavy Rain Before the Change

Before the warmer weather arrives, many parts of the UK will continue to experience unsettled conditions.

Heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected across much of the country on Wednesday, particularly in eastern England and eastern Scotland where thundery outbreaks could become more widespread.

Temperatures will remain noticeably below average for early June, running around 3C to 6C lower than normal in many areas.

Thursday is expected to remain cool as a broad area of rain pushes eastwards across the country, bringing further wet conditions before the weather pattern begins to improve.

High Pressure Brings Sunshine

Conditions will start to improve on Friday, with brighter skies, fewer showers and slightly warmer temperatures.

The most significant change is expected over the weekend as high pressure builds northward from southern Europe.

Much of England and Wales can expect sunshine and increasingly warm conditions, helped by a southerly airflow that will transport warmer air across the country.

Temperatures Could Reach 28C

By Sunday, temperatures are forecast to reach between 22C and 27C across many parts of England and Wales, with some areas of southeast England potentially reaching 28C.

These values would place temperatures around 6C to 8C above the seasonal average for early June.

Warmer conditions will also extend into Northern Ireland and southern Scotland, where highs of 20C to 22C are expected.

Further north, temperatures are likely to remain closer to average, ranging between 17C and 20C under cloudier skies.

Heatwave Status Still Uncertain

Despite the expected rise in temperatures, meteorologists say it remains too early to determine whether an official heatwave will develop.

In the UK, a heatwave is typically declared when temperatures exceed a location-specific threshold of between 25C and 28C for at least three consecutive days.

While some regions could meet these criteria, forecasting models remain divided on how long the high-pressure system will remain in place.

Next Week’s Forecast Remains Unclear

Some weather models suggest the area of high pressure will remain firmly established over the UK, allowing temperatures to stay in the mid-to-high 20s into next week.

Other forecasts indicate the system could shift eastwards, allowing Atlantic weather systems to return. This scenario would bring cooler temperatures, increased cloud cover and the return of showers.

For now, forecasters expect a noticeably warmer and more settled period across much of the UK, offering a welcome taste of summer after a cooler and wetter start to June.