THE tranquil and sunny weather that has blessed Wales in recent weeks is set to be briefly interrupted by thunderstorms and lightning, according to the latest forecast from the Met Office. While residents have been relishing the scorching temperatures, the Met Office has issued a heat health alert for parts of Britain this weekend, cautioning individuals to be prepared for the sudden change in weather conditions.
The Met Office predicts that Wales will experience daytime temperatures ranging from 21 to 23 degrees Celsius on both Saturday and Sunday, making it one of the hottest weekends of the year so far. Despite this summery warmth, a chance of thunderstorms looms over the nation, creating an atmospheric juxtaposition.
The Met Office advises the people of Wales to brace themselves for “very warm” conditions beginning on Friday, which will persist through the weekend. Saturday and Sunday have the potential for heavy showers and even thundery episodes. The official weekend forecast for Wales reads, “Long sunny spells on Friday once early morning cloud clears. Becoming windy. Feeling very warm with temperatures climbing. Chance of heavy showers, perhaps thundery on Saturday and into Sunday.”
The BBC Weather outlook for the same period aligns with the Met Office’s forecast, further solidifying the expectation of thundery weather. Lightning is currently anticipated on Saturday, June 10, starting from 3 p.m., and also on Tuesday, June 13, between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
According to forecast maps from the Met Office, certain areas in Wales, including Aberystwyth, Llandovery, and Builth Wells, are likely to be affected by the thunderstorms on Saturday.
The unsettled weather conditions are attributed to a warm plume of air originating from the south. This influx of warm air has elevated temperatures and is expected to introduce thundery showers. The departure of a high-pressure system that has provided stability to much of the UK over the past couple of weeks will allow the warm plume to influence the weekend weather.
While Storm Oscar, named by the Spanish Meteorological Service (AEMET), will not directly impact the UK, it will contribute to driving the warm air plume into southern areas. Deputy Chief Meteorologist Dan Harris from the Met Office explains, “Temperatures will rise later this week and into the weekend, with a plume of warm air being drawn in from the south. Temperatures over the weekend could peak around 30°C in some parts of England and remain well above average during night-times.”
Harris also highlights the increased probability of potentially heavy and thundery showers, which could cause localized disruptions. Although the far southwest may experience these disturbances as early as late Friday, the exact details of the weather event cannot be definitively determined this far in advance.
As Wales prepares for a temporary departure from the sun-drenched days it has recently enjoyed, it is advisable for residents to stay updated on the changing weather conditions and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety and well-being during the thunderstorms.
