Hotter weather is on the horizon following a tumultuous start to spring.
The UK had a tempestuous start to the week with thunderstorms raging across the west of England, Scotland and Wales, but we’ll start to see temperatures hotting up as spring finally starts to kick in properly.
That warmer weather comes alongside increased solar activity, as the sun lets off a series of sun flares at the peak of its 11-year cycle.
Known as the ‘solar maximum’, the global temperatures could increase by half as much as the El Nino phenomenon.
One of the results of the increased solar activity was the stunning Northern Lights show visible far further south than normal – although this activity is now tailing off and it’s unlikely we’ll see any more aurora borealis shows in the UK.
But while the flares bring hotter weather they also bring increased danger of sunburn due to increased UV levels.
Met Office space weather manager Simon Machin said: ‘The solar maximum increases the chances of space weather events impacting earth.
‘The sun will emit solar flares and geomagnetic storms, with an ongoing chance of potential impacts.’
A study published on US Government weather forecasters NOAA’s climate website said: ‘During strong solar cycles, the sun’s brightness varies, affecting global average temperature by 0.1°C.’
This is a significant amount as even an El Nino only gives a 0.2°C boost, Met Office data shows.
31°C sizzles are expected next month, as highs have reached 31°C by late June in four of the past five years, Met Office records show.
A Met Office forecaster said: ‘Through the first half of June has a slightly higher likelihood of above-average temperatures and hot spells.’
Sunbathers may well have been caught out in the sun this weekend, with the highest spring UV levels for years recorded alongside the hottest day of the year so far.
Fair-skinned Brits were advised to stay out of the sun if not using sunblock as the UV rocketed to a ‘very high’ level 7, amid warnings people could burn in just 30 minutes.
UV levels normally only reach ‘very high’ in the UK for a few days in late June, when the sun is at its strongest of the year. Level 8 is likely at times later next month.
There are fears millions of sunbathers were caught out by the sun’s strength at the weekend in the first warm spell of the year.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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