UK Set for Hottest Day of Year Friday, Then Bank Holiday Showers

Key facts

• London and East Anglia expected to reach 27°C on Friday.
• Friday's highs will be about 10°C above the seasonal average of 15-17°C.
• Temperatures will exceed those in Sydney (24°C), Buenos Aires (22°C), Tunis (22°C) and Honolulu (26°C).
• Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge attributes the warmth to humid air from the south.
• Cloud and heavy rain are forecast over Scotland, the Pennines and the Midlands on Friday.
• Saturday will bring bright spells but showers, especially in northern and western UK.
• Sunday and Monday will see temperatures cool to near average: 11-12°C in the north, 15-16°C in the south.
• April 2023 was drier and warmer than average across all four UK nations.

A Scorching Friday Before the Bank Holiday Change

Parts of the United Kingdom will swelter on Friday in what the Met Office says will be the warmest day of the year so far, with London and East Anglia forecast to reach 27 degrees Celsius. That temperature will surpass highs expected in Sydney, Buenos Aires, Tunis and even Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii, where the mercury is predicted to top out at 26°C. The heat, however, will be fleeting. The bank holiday weekend that follows will bring a dramatic shift, with rain and much cooler conditions spreading across the country. The Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge described the warm spell as a brief pulse of very warm, humid air arriving from the south.

Friday's Heat: 10°C Above Average

Friday's highs in London and the south-east will be roughly 10°C higher than the average for this time of year, which typically ranges from 15°C to 17°C. The Met Office said the warmest spots will be in the east and south-east, where sunshine will be strongest. “We’ve got some very warm, humid air coming up from the south,” Partridge told the Press Association. “That means we will see some very warm weather, particularly in the east and the south-east, because there we’ll see the best of the sunshine.” Not everyone will enjoy the heat. Cloud over the central spine of the UK — from Scotland, through the Pennines and into the Midlands — could produce heavy rain on Friday. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t mean everybody’s going to get a warm, dry, beautiful day,” Partridge said.

Bank Holiday Weekend: Showers and a Sharp Cooldown

The clear skies on Friday will not persist. The bank holiday weekend is expected to bring changeable conditions, with a mix of bright spells and showers. Saturday will see some sunshine, but showers are likely, particularly across northern and western parts of the UK. “The weekend is a bit of a different story, really,” said Partridge. “There will be some bright spells in there as well on Saturday, but there will also be showers, particularly across northern and western parts of the UK.” Rain is forecast across the country on Sunday, and temperatures will continue to fall toward the May average. By Monday, the cooldown will be pronounced.

Monday's Chill: Back to Seasonal Norms

Partridge said that by Monday, temperatures will be roughly where they should be for this time of year. “We’re looking at 11s and 12s [degrees Celsius] in the north and 15s and 16s in the south, so it will feel quite fresh and chilly compared to what we’ve had.” The contrast with Friday will be stark. After basking in 27°C, many parts of the country will see highs barely half that, with a damp and cool end to the long weekend.

April's Warm, Dry Prelude

The brief hot spell follows an April that was drier and warmer than average for much of the UK, according to provisional figures from the Met Office. All four nations — England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — recorded a higher mean temperature in April than the long-term average. This pattern of above-average warmth in April and a sudden spike in early May fits a broader trend of increasingly variable spring weather, though the Met Office has not attributed this specific event to climate change.

What Comes Next: Unsettled Outlook

After the bank holiday, the outlook remains unsettled. The Met Office has not issued a long-range forecast beyond the weekend, but the pattern suggests a return to cooler, showery conditions typical of early May. For those hoping to extend the summer-like warmth, the message is clear: enjoy Friday while it lasts. The heat will be a memory by Monday, replaced by the fresh chill of a British spring.

The bottom line

• Friday will be the UK's hottest day of 2023 so far, with 27°C in London and East Anglia.
• Temperatures will exceed those in several global cities, including Honolulu.
• The heat is caused by warm, humid air from the south.
• Friday's warmth will be followed by a wet and cool bank holiday weekend, with temperatures dropping to near average by Monday.
• April 2023 was drier and warmer than average across all four UK nations.
• The bank holiday weekend will see rain and temperatures as low as 11°C in the north.