HOTTEST SUMMER EVER: Long-range weather forecast for UK reveals 2014 will be a SCORCHER!
BRITAIN is set to roast in a THREE-MONTH heatwave that could smash ALL summer weather records, forecasters claimed tonight.
The latest long-range forecasting models indicate record temperatures for much of May, with the mercury likely to hit a sizzling 90F within a month.
And the blazing hot early summer will hold out for nearly 100 days with above-average temperatures forecast for each of the next three months.
Experts say Britain is on course for a 'exceptionally unusual' summer which could even put last year’s near historic heat wave in the shade.
Jonathan Powell, forecaster for Vantage Weather Services, said next month could break all records with weeks of wall-to-wall sunshine across the UK.
The rest of summer will be charged with extreme 'heat spikes' pushing the mercury up into the 80s or even higher, all the way until the end of August.
He said: "May is looking absolutely fantastic with a strong possibility we could see records broken in terms of temperature and sunshine.
"Through the summer there is a distinct possibility of seeing dramatic spikes in temperature lasting right through the season, with cooler spells either side.
"There is a real chance we could see a repeat of last summer’s heatwave this year as the weather becomes more extreme."
May is looking absolutely fantastic with a strong possibility we could see both temperature and sunshine records broken
The Met Office said the UK record for May high temperatures is 91F (32.8C) recorded in London, Kent and West Sussex, in 1922 and 1944.
If thermometers breach these highs, as long-range forecasters think, Britain could be in for the hottest May ever.
The Met Office’s three-month contingency planner suggests the warm weather is set to continue right through the summer.
It states: "Latest predictions for UK mean temperature favour above-average temperatures for April-May-June.
"Overall, the probability that the UK mean temperature for April-May-June will fall into the warmest of our five categories is between 25 and 30 per cent."
News of the impending heatwave comes just weeks after Britain endured the wettest winter on record which triggered devastating floods across the southwest.
Some experts warn Britain will be hit by more extremes of weather thanks to climate change and a pattern of ocean temperatures - El Nino - expected later his year.
Heatwaves like the one which toasted Britain in almost three weeks last year, with temperatures hitting 82F (28C) or above every day, could become more common.
If the pattern continues it could mean the entire country could be in for a repeat of the historic scorcher of 1976 when for 15 days in July temperatures reached 32.2 C (90F) somewhere in England.
Britons have been warned not to crack out the sun cream and head for the beach just yet though, with forecasters warning the next few days are looking chilly.
A cool breeze from the North could see the mercury dip to freezing even in parts of the south on Wednesday night although things will warm up by the weekend.
A Met Office spokesman said: "High pressure will bring plenty of dry and fine weather for most through Sunday, Monday and Tuesday with variable cloud amounts and sunny spells, but with cold nights bringing patchy frost.
"A band of cloud and rain on Sunday will make limited southward progress before gradually dying out, showers will follow into northern parts.
“High pressure should retain a good deal of influence across the UK with plenty of dry, and at times sunny weather.
"Amounts of rainfall should generally be below average for many places too."
Leon Brown, forecaster for The Weather Channel, said runners in this Sunday’s London Marathon can look forward to “ideal conditions” with a cool start to the day and light winds.
He said: “Weak fronts moving down over the north giving some rain and showers Wednesday to Thursday. Ground frost and local air frost in the south of England on Wednesday morning.
“For the weekend- high pressure is expected to bring a fine but cold start to Saturday with a widespread ground frost at dawn, and local air frosts in frost hollows. The south having a fine and dry Saturday with sunshine and well broken cloud, temperatures a pleasant 15 to 16C.
"For the London Marathon - ideal conditions. A cool and bright start with light winds. Becoming partly to most cloudy from late morning to mid afternoon with a slight 20 per cent risk of a light shower."
