Met Office warn of lightning hailstorms despite 21C mini-heatwave

05.05.2022 - 20:39 / ok.co.uk

Forecasters warn that we could see lightning and hail storms this week as temperatures rise during a mini-heatwave. Parts of the country are experiencing highs of up to 21C, but according to the Met Office disruptive weather is on its way.The UK is set to be hit with “lively” weather as things become unsettled.

Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern told the Daily Express: "There will be hail and thunder, and they will be quite lively things. "Where we get sunny spells, it will feel quite warm and there will be a noticeable difference in the east.

"As warmth from the southwest makes its way towards the UK... we could get 21C towards the south and the southeast." It’s set to be damp on Friday with a band of rain making its way across the country.

However the outlook for the rest of the month is a lot brighter, with bookmakers predicting it will be the warmest May ever. Coral has slashed its odds 3-1 from 5-1 and Ladbrokes 6-4 from 2-1.

Spokesman for Coral Harry Aitkenhead told the Express: "There is every chance that this month now will enter the record books as the warmest May we have ever had, with temperatures to soar above 20 degrees towards next weekend and the UK to be warmer than Ibiza." According to the Met Office the mercury is set to soar next week, with warmer than average temperatures predicted from May 9 to May 18. In the long range weather forecast, the Met Office said: “Dry weather continuing for most throughout much of this period, bringing variable cloud and sunny spells to most areas.” “It added: The settled weather will continue, widespread through the second half of the period, with any rain confined to western and northern areas.Temperatures are likely to rise above average through the first few