Heatwave Newcastle May 2022: when is nine-day mini heatwave coming, and what is Met Office weather forecast?

The summer months are just around the corner, bringing with it hope of warmer weather and clear skies.

After a brief stint of nice weather in early April it seems that the nice weather is scheduled to return in May - with reports of a potential heatwave on the way from the Met Office.

So, will Newcastle be hit by a potential heatwave?

Here’s everything you need to know about the latest updates from the Met Office.

What is a heatwave?

The Met Office website states that a UK heatwave can only happen if a specific threshold is met.

The threshold in order to declare a heatwave is: “when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold.”

The temperature threshold for a heatwave differs from city to city throughout the whole of the UK, reflecting the climate difference across them.

The initial heatwave thresholds were calculated based on the 1981-2010 climatology of daily maximum temperature at the midpoint of the meteorological summer (15 July).

This year, the Met Office updated the threshold. The revised thresholds will use the 1991-2020 averaging period introduced in January 2022.

The threshold for a heatwave temperature differs by county, with some areas in the southeast having a threshold of 28°C, while areas to the north and west have a threshold of 25°C.

Will the heatwave hit Newcastle?

The warmer weather is forecast to hit in the middle of the month, however, temperatures are expected to rise as soon as this weekend.

While there may be some areas that see warmer weather, for most places it is unlikely that the warmer weather will reach the threshold of three consecutive days of warmer weather in order to be considered an official heatwave.

What is the weather forecast for Newcastle?

Friday 6 May

There will be a cloudy and breezy start to the day with outbreaks of rain. The rain will be persistent and heavy in places.

As the day progresses it will become drier and brighter in northwestern areas.

Temperatures will hit a maximum of 16°C.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday

The weekend will begin with sunny spells with some light showers on Saturday.

However, the showers will move on come Sunday with some warm sunny spells developing after a cloudy start.

Monday will continue to be cloudy with some rain developing later in the day.

What is the long-range weather forecast for the UK?

Tuesday 10 May - Thursday 19 May

It will be mostly cloudy across the northwest areas of the UK with some showers throughout the period. However, brighter and sunnier spells are forecast to break through at times.

Northern areas may experience some light winds with temperatures remaining average for this time of year.

Towards the end of this period there will be a general chance to lower pressure, particularly for northern areas, which may see conditions unsettle bringing some showers with it.

Thursday 19 May - Thursday 2 June

For the second half of May conditions may become more unsettled bringing showers of rain for most areas.

Drier spells are forecast to be likely for most, particularly for southern areas. Temperatures will continue to be above average. Northern areas will see a drop to normal temperatures for this time of year later in the period.