Hotter than Benidorm - Blackpool & the Fylde coast to sizzle in 'exceptional spell of warmth', says MET Office
People in Blackpool and the Fylde coast are urged to take care in hot weather - especially around water.
An “exceptional spell of warmth” is heading our way - with weather in Blackpool and the Fylde coast set to be hotter than Benidorm next week.
Experts at the MET Office say that temperatures will build from today as high pressure brings more settled conditions and clear skies for many.
Today - Friday, May 22
A fine day for many with plenty of sunshine, although low cloud may affect some areas near to the coast at times. Sunshine may turn a little hazy elsewhere throughout the afternoon, but feeling very warm for most. Maximum temperature 26 °C.
Oernight it will turn cloudy with some outbreaks of rain moving across the region overnight. Drier again by dawn but skies remaining rather cloudy for many. A mild night. Minimum temperature 12 °C.
Saturday, May 23
A grey start in places, but the cloud will increasingly break up allowing plenty of sunshine to develop across the region come of the afternoon. Feeling a little fresher. Maximum temperature 23 °C.
Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:
Remaining dry and settled throughout Sunday and early next week with plenty of sunshine. Met Office experts say: “Feeling very warm by day with potentially some warm nights too.”By Wednesday, the temperature in and around central Lancashire is set to hit 28 °C - which is two degrees hotter than what is expected in Benidorm.
Why is it turning warmer?
The MET Office said: “Although winds are expected to turn more southerly by the end of the week, the rise in temperatures is not primarily due to hot air being transported directly from southern Europe or North Africa.
“Instead, the main driver of the warming trend is the development of high pressure over and near the UK. As this high-pressure strengthens, it causes sinking air in the atmosphere. This descending air is compressed as it moves downward, leading to warming through a process known as adiabatic compression.
In simple terms, as air is compressed, its temperature increases. This process can significantly raise temperatures at the surface, even when the original air mass is not especially warm. In this case, much of the air over the UK still originates from the Atlantic, but it becomes warmer as it descends under high pressure.”
Temperature records set to be broken
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster, Steve Kocher, said: “Temperatures will climb through the weekend, especially in the south, where 30°C is likely to be recorded on Saturday and 32°C on Sunday. Temperatures are forecast to peak on Monday when we could see 33°C recorded in southern England and the Midlands.”
“It is likely that the May and Spring UK temperature records will be broken over the Bank Holiday weekend, with forecast temperatures surpassing the existing record of 32.8°C. As well as it being hot, there will be lots of dry and sunny weather for much of the UK. There will however be more cloud and some showers in Northern Ireland and western Scotland through the weekend. With relatively low sea surface temperatures there is also likely to be some low cloud and sea fog clinging closely to western coasts.”
The Met Office is encouraging people to be WeatherReady this Bank Holiday weekend as temperatures are set to rise, with many expected to head outdoors and to the coast.
With lifeguard rescues having more than doubled last year according to the RNLI, planning ahead is important. Using tools such as the beach forecasts on the Met Office app helps people to better understand local conditions and stay safe.
People heading to the coast should be mindful that sea surface temperatures are not as high as they would be in mid-summer when the UK more usually records temperatures in the 30°Cs. Current sea surface temperatures range from 9°C around Scotland to 13°C around the south west of the England.