The UK faces rain but a mini heatwave is expected in the first week of May, according to forecasts

The bad weather is set to last for a while, but we will see an improvement towards the end of the month.

UK mini heatwave
© Future Publishing / Gettyimages
UK mini heatwave

The UK is currently facing some very rubbish weather. At this point in the year, we are used to packing a rain jacket or umbrella for the day ahead, even if it’s dry when we wake up. Today, the country is being swept by rain and more bad weather is expected over the coming days.

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However, there is light at the end of the tunnel - quite literally! A mini heatwave is forecast to hit the UK in a matter of weeks. Here’s everything you need to know about the changing conditions as we head into the month of May.

Rain for the next few days

A band of showers has already hit the UK today, on Monday 22 April. According to Sky News, ‘high pressure to the west of Britain and Ireland hasn't been strong enough to prevent cloud and patchy rain spreading south today’. Met Office meteorologist Ellie Glaisyer said:

That area of rain continues to push its way southward through Monday morning and in towards the afternoon, not turning particularly heavy, but definitely greyer and a bit more damp than we saw over the weekend.

The rain will affect much of the country, leaving only the southeast to catch a glimpse of sun. The air remains chilly, with temperatures unlikely to exceed 9C.

Mini heatwave on its way

Long-range weather maps forecast a very cold weekend over April 28 and 29. Temperatures are set to plummet, and may even bring snow to some areas.

However, this won’t last too long. Maps from WXCharts show that a mini heatwave is expected for 5 and 6 May. Brighter conditions are forecast for East Anglia and the South East and temperatures are set ‘to finally warm up significantly during the final third of April and into early May’, according to James Madden from Exacta Weather.

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Sources used:

Express: UK hot weather: Exact date maps turn red and orange as 20C mini-heatwave reaches Britain

Sky News: UK weather: The latest Sky News forecast

Mirror: UK weather: Monday misery looms as massive band of rain to soak large areas of UK later today

Yellow weather warning issued as UK to face another wet week Yellow weather warning issued as UK to face another wet week