South West braces for hottest weekend of the year

Parts of the South West could see heatwave conditions by the weekend, with temperatures expected to climb above 30ºC, the Met Office has warned.

A spell of settled, sunny weather is forecast to build through the week, with Exeter, Torbay and parts of East Devon likely to feel some of the highest temperatures recorded so far this year.

According to the Met Office, Wednesday will see highs of around 27ºC, rising to 29ºC on Thursday, and potentially exceeding 30ºC by Saturday in some areas.

Heatwave thresholds could be met

Heatwave conditions are defined as a period of at least three consecutive days with temperatures meeting or exceeding a specific threshold — 25ºC for most of the South West.

Given current forecasts, much of Devon, Somerset and east Cornwall may also tip into official heatwave territory.

What’s causing the heat?

Matthew Lehnert, Met Office Chief Meteorologist, explained: “An area of high pressure over southern England will build across a larger part of the UK through midweek. It will remain very warm across parts of the south and east.”

The rising temperatures are being driven by a combination of settled weather, clear skies and a southerly airflow drawing in warmer air from continental Europe.

How long will it last?

High pressure is expected to shift away early next week, leading to cooler conditions. However, forecasters say there is some uncertainty in how quickly temperatures will drop.

“Temperatures are likely to peak in the low 30s Celsius this weekend before easing sometime early week,” added Mr Wisson.

“Some forecast models even allow temperatures to rise into the mid 30s by Monday. While this is feasible, it is considered a lower-likelihood scenario.”