Sunshine over clouds in an orange sky during a heatwave.

How do this week's temperatures compare with previous years?

Temperatures are expected to rise significantly this week, and could reach as high as 28 or 29°C in some areas

This week, temperatures are currently set to rise significantly, reaching up to 29°C. Let's explore how these temperatures compare to historical records. 

In this article, we will explore the earliest dates by which certain temperature thresholds were reached according to historical data. The temperature thresholds we are focusing on are next week’s temperatures.

Monday looks like it could reach 25°C, while Tuesday is expected to see the mercury rising to 26°C. Wednesday is forecast to bring a further increase of up to 27°C, while Thursday could well be a scorcher with 29°C. Finally, Friday is expected to ease off a little, with temperatures dipping to 27°C.

Historically, the earliest dates in which temperatures reached these thresholds in the UK were:

  • 25°C:March 29, 1965.
  • 26°C:April 4, 1946.
  • 27°C:April 8, 2011.
  • 29°C:April 19, 2018.

The latest dates in which temperatures reached these thresholds were:

  • 25°C: July 11, 1972.
  • 26°C: July 13, 1972.
  • 27°C: July 30, 1938.
  • 29°C: September 1, 1954.

READ MORE: How do we define a heatwave, and will we have one this week?

This comparison shows that next week’s temperature thresholds have historically been reached at various times of the year, sometimes as much as five months apart.

For example, the earliest date when the temperature reached 25°C was March 29, 1965, while the latest was July 11, 1972. Similarly, the earliest date for 26°C was April 4, 1946, and the latest was July 13, 1972. For 27°C, the earliest date was April 8, 2011, and the latest was July 30, 1938. The earliest date for 29°C was April 19, 2018, and the latest was September 1, 1954.

So, while no new records look likely to be set this week, we can all look forward to temperatures rising through the week. If you’ve not yet dusted off the parasol and cleaned up the barbecue grill, this week could be the perfect time to do so.

Why these temperatures now?

In the latest Weather Studio Live, Met Office presenter and meteorologist, Honor Criswick, explained what’s happening to cause the increase in temperatures over the next few days.

Honor said: “What’s really interesting is actually where our air is coming from. We tend to talk about hot air coming from the south, a warm plume coming up from the south, perhaps all the way up from Africa creating heatwave conditions. But, what we’re actually seeing is something slightly different.

“Our air is actually coming all the way from Scandinavia, so actually it’s not a warm plume from the south. What is actually happening is, as the air moves towards the UK, it’s moving into high pressure, that’s where the air is descending. As this takes place it tends to warm up, and we’re having that over a few consecutive days, so day-by-day, temperatures are increasing as our air is getting warmer and warmer.”

Keep up to date with weather warnings, and you can find the latest forecast on our website, on YouTube, by following us on X and Facebook, as well as on our mobile app which is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from the Google Play store