Parts of the UK are set to experience a mini heatwave, with temperatures across Northern Ireland expected to climb into the low twenties.
Yellow heat health alerts have been issued as the mercury is expected to rise to around 30C in other parts of the UK from Thursday to Sunday.
But Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said: “It will be quite a bit cooler for Scotland and Northern Ireland, where temperatures may be 18C or 19C, or maybe a bit lower, where that rain persists on the west coast.”
The hot weather comes as parts of the country have already experienced well in excess of July’s average rainfall figures despite only being halfway through the month.
A Met Office spokesperson said NI had 47% of July’s average rainfall between July 1 and 15. England had 97%, Wales had 65% and Scotland 49%.
Nicola Maxey of the Met Office said: “There are quite big regional differences, but overall it’s looking like a wet month so far.
“There is a caveat that, with a dry couple of weeks, by the end of the month things could even themselves out.”
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Wednesday saw temperatures in many areas in NI reach up to 20C, but the outlook for Friday through to Sunday so far seems to be rather unsettled, with showers or, especially on Saturday, longer spells of occasionally heavy rain.
A warm Friday has been forecasted, but it will get cooler again over the weekend.
Looking further ahead to the end of this month and into August, the national forecaster says there will be some hints of drier spells.
However, low pressure may continue to affect NI at times, bringing cooler, wetter and windier conditions.
Though difficult to predict a long-range forecast, meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey has reassured the public that the weather predictions do not “mean it will be raining every day”.
Last month saw temperatures remain in the early teens — the last time the first 10 days of June were that cold was in 2020. Compared to June last year, NI was enjoying daily temperatures of around 20C.
Experts explained that the below-average temperatures were due to the Atlantic jet stream bringing in cool air from Iceland and Greenland.
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist David Hayter said: “The position of the jet stream, which is a ribbon of air high up in the atmosphere, is often the driving force behind the weather we experience in the UK.
“In recent weeks, the jet stream has been either directed towards the UK or shifted further south, which has predominantly brought cooler air over the UK, with frequent incursions of some unseasonable winds and rain.
“For warm weather in the UK in summer, you’d tend to see the jet stream shifted further north, which allows the possibility of warmer air to drift over the UK from the south.
“Unfortunately for those who like the warmth, we have only had brief periods where this pattern has been present in summer so far.
“While there’s much uncertainty in the forecast at this range, there are some subtle signs of a more settled spell possibly developing, at least for a time, in the second half of July.”
News Catch Up: Wednesday 17th July 2024