A high-pressure system is bringing a rare warm spell to England and Wales this Bank Holiday weekend, with temperatures soaring to 30°C in some areas before a shift to wetter conditions midweek as ex-Hurricane Erin approaches.
Most of England and Wales are bracing for a notably warm Bank Holiday Weekend as temperatures steadily rise, with some parts expected to reach highs around 30°C. According to the Met Office, a high-pressure system over the UK will keep persistent rain offshore, fostering a predominantly dry and settled spell of weather. However, cloud cover may affect perceived temperatures, particularly in eastern regions where it could remain relatively cool on Saturday. By Monday, southern and central England could experience temperatures peaking near 28°C, with Gloucester forecasted to hit 30°C, closely followed by major cities like London, Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Coventry, Oxford, Milton Keynes, Luton, and Telford clocking in at around 29°C.
The latest forecasts from the Met Office highlight this wave of warmth as part of a broader trend of fine, stable conditions encouraged by the positioned high pressure. While some showers are possible, these are likely to be light and fleeting, mainly affecting parts of Northern Ireland and northern England on Saturday and western Scotland on Sunday. The deputy chief meteorologist, Tony Wisson, notes that a transition in weather could begin by midweek as Ex-Hurricane Erin, now weakened to a broad low-pressure system, moves eastwards towards the UK. This shift is expected to bring wetter, windier conditions starting Tuesday, displacing the current settled pattern.
Reports from various UK cities underscore the scale of the warming trend as many locations prepare for some of the hottest temperatures of the year so far. London, Cambridge, Norwich, and Luton are among several places where temperatures are forecasted to reach or exceed 31°C, signalling a significant heatwave for this time of year. This aligns with earlier observations of soaring temperatures that saw Monday’s highs reach 23.4°C, as recorded in Cardiff, marking the warmest day up to that point in the current year.
Further meteorological data offers a comprehensive picture of temperature variations across the UK, showing Portsmouth, Southampton, Chichester, Plymouth, and Swansea among the warmest cities based on average daily highs. Meanwhile, a broader list includes Bath, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, and Chelmsford, all enjoying temperatures above 26°C. Such widespread warm weather is relatively unusual in late spring, reaffirming the influence of the high-pressure system and the advancing warm air from southern Europe.
In summary, the Bank Holiday Weekend is set to be warm and largely dry for much of England and Wales, with substantial heat predicted in key urban centres. However, this settled pattern appears temporary as ex-hurricane Erin approaches, signalling a likely return of rainfall and stronger winds by midweek. Residents and visitors are advised to prepare for the shift, balancing enjoyment of the sunny spell with awareness of the wetter conditions anticipated later in the week.
Reference Map:
- Paragraph 1 – [1], [5], [7]
- Paragraph 2 – [1], [5], [7]
- Paragraph 3 – [3], [2], [7]
- Paragraph 4 – [4], [6]
- Paragraph 5 – [1], [7]
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.express.co.uk/news/weather/2099561/hot-weather-maps-uk-30c-hottest-cities – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/may/26/bank-holiday-weekend-forecast-bring-uk-hottest-day-year-so-far – An article from The Guardian discussing the UK’s hottest day of the year forecasted during the bank holiday weekend, with temperatures expected to reach 24°C (75°F). The Met Office indicated that the area of high pressure bringing fine conditions would continue through the weekend and into the following week. The highest temperature recorded at that time was 23.4°C in Cardiff on Monday.
- https://www.farminglife.com/news/weather/these-are-the-10-hottest-cities-in-the-uk-today-with-temperatures-31c-or-more-2935958 – A report highlighting the 10 hottest cities in the UK, with temperatures reaching 31°C or more. The cities listed include London, Cambridge, Norwich, and Luton, among others. The article provides insights into the specific temperatures forecasted for each city, emphasizing the significant heatwave affecting the country.
- https://www.betterwhere.com/warmest-cities-in-the-uk/ – An analysis of the warmest cities in the UK, ranked by daily mean temperature. The list includes cities like Portsmouth, Southampton, Chichester, Plymouth, and Swansea. The article provides detailed statistics on average high and low temperatures, offering a comprehensive overview of temperature variations across different UK cities.
- https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news-and-media/media-centre/weather-and-climate-news/2025/uk-weather-forecast-dry-and-settled-weekend-for-many – A Met Office forecast indicating a dry and settled weekend for many parts of the UK. The article mentions that high pressure over the UK will help keep persistent rain offshore, bringing dry and fine weather. It also notes that cloud cover could impact how warm it feels, with temperatures possibly peaking around 28°C in some parts of southern and central England on Monday.
- https://www.obnews.co/Flow/News/id/10733787.html?ch=oppo&g_v=SBie7Ls8G4WyGFeBUHgO_GfRdjFpiJTLkpdfOy18gtcOJ0l6TEDA3aC8IQHceXaP&val=c5f9aa7c0f3dd495c58da4425f02d4b3 – An article listing the cities in the UK expected to experience temperatures of at least 26°C on 16th June. The cities include Bath, Birmingham, Bolton, Bradford, Brighton and Hove, Bristol, Cambridge, Canterbury, Cardiff, Chelmsford, Chester, Chichester, Colchester, Coventry, Derby, Doncaster, Ely, Gloucester, Hereford, Hull, Ipswich, Leeds, Leicester, Lichfield, Lincoln, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Newport, Northampton, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Reading, Salford, Salisbury, Sheffield, Southampton, Southend-on-Sea, St Albans, Stoke-on-Trent, Wakefield, Wells, Westminster, Winchester, Wolverhampton, and Worcester.
- https://www.express.co.uk/news/weather/2099561/hot-weather-maps-uk-30c-hottest-cities – An article from the Express discussing the UK’s hot Bank Holiday Weekend, with temperatures expected to reach 30°C in cities like Gloucester, London, Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Coventry, Oxford, Milton Keynes, Luton, and Telford. The article includes insights from Met Office Chief Meteorologist Paul Gundersen and Deputy Chief Meteorologist Tony Wisson, highlighting the influence of Ex-Hurricane Erin on the UK’s weather patterns.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative presents a forecast for the upcoming Bank Holiday Weekend, with temperatures reaching 30°C in parts of the UK. This forecast aligns with recent reports from the Met Office and other reputable sources, indicating that the information is current and not recycled. The earliest known publication date of similar content is August 23, 2025, from Sky News. ([news.sky.com](https://news.sky.com/story/uk-set-to-bask-in-30c-sunshine-over-bank-holiday-weekend-13417222?utm_source=openai)) The narrative includes updated data and forecasts, justifying a higher freshness score. However, the Express article may have republished content from the Met Office press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. ([metoffice.gov.uk](https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news-and-media/media-centre/weather-and-climate-news/2025/uk-weather-turning-cooler-for-bank-holiday-weekend?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative includes a direct quote from Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Tony Wisson, stating, “A transition in weather could begin by midweek as Ex-Hurricane Erin, now weakened to a broad low-pressure system, moves eastwards towards the UK.” This quote appears to be original and not found in earlier material. No identical quotes were found in earlier publications, indicating potential originality.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from Express.co.uk, a UK-based news outlet. While Express.co.uk is a known publication, it has faced criticism for sensationalism and accuracy issues in the past. The Met Office, a reputable organisation, is cited within the narrative, lending credibility to the weather information provided. However, the Express article may have republished content from the Met Office press release, which typically warrants a high reliability score. ([metoffice.gov.uk](https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news-and-media/media-centre/weather-and-climate-news/2025/uk-weather-turning-cooler-for-bank-holiday-weekend?utm_source=openai))
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative’s claims about the upcoming Bank Holiday Weekend weather are plausible and align with forecasts from the Met Office and other reputable sources. The forecasted temperatures of up to 30°C are consistent with recent reports. ([news.sky.com](https://news.sky.com/story/uk-set-to-bask-in-30c-sunshine-over-bank-holiday-weekend-13417222?utm_source=openai)) The inclusion of a direct quote from Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Tony Wisson adds credibility. However, the Express article may have republished content from the Met Office press release, which typically warrants a high plausibility score. ([metoffice.gov.uk](https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news-and-media/media-centre/weather-and-climate-news/2025/uk-weather-turning-cooler-for-bank-holiday-weekend?utm_source=openai))
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative provides a current and plausible weather forecast for the upcoming Bank Holiday Weekend, with temperatures reaching 30°C in parts of the UK. The inclusion of a direct quote from Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Tony Wisson adds credibility. While the Express article may have republished content from the Met Office press release, which typically warrants a high freshness and reliability score, the overall assessment is positive. The source’s reliability is noted as a strength, and the plausibility of the claims is high.