Map shows the Kent places set to hit 31C in weekend scorcher
Some like it hot and this weekend in Kent[1] is going to be a bit of a scorcher, with top temperatures set to reach 31C. The Met Office weather map shows the places in Kent where temperatures are going be hottest.
But even before the weekend gets started, today (Friday) is also going to see that mercury rise with a top temperature of 30C late afternoon. It's going to be the weekend to head to Kent's coast or its attractions with lakes, lidos, swimming pools and splash parks[2].
The official heatwave continues and temperatures could even climb to just above 32C in the south, warns the Met Office[3]. This would exceed the June's highest temperature so far this year in the UK.
High pressure is to thank for the holiday-like highs which are "well above average" for this time of year, along with an active tropical cyclone pushing the jet stream to the UK. There is an amber weather alert in place for Kent until 9pm on Sunday.
This means you could face travel delays, road and rail closures, power cuts and "potential risk to life and property". Today (Friday) Kent will be reaching top temperatures of 30C in Dartford[5] and Maidstone[6] by late afternoon, with just one or two degrees lower in all other parts except Dover[7], where it will be around 23C. But there will be sunny intervals or full sun across Kent.
On Saturday, full sun is forecast all day across Kent with top temperatures of 31C in Dartford, 30C in Rochester, Westerham and Maidstone, with the rest of Kent one or two degrees lower. At Margate[8] and Dover, it will be a wee bit cooler at 26C.
And plan for the evening, as it is forecast to still be 28C or 27C in the north of Kent right up until 7pm. Sunday in Kent will start early with full sun and again be a hot one, with top temperatures in Dartford of 28C and Canterbury[9], with around 26C and 27C in the rest of Kent, including in Dover and Margate.
But the cloud will start in the west of the county at around 10am and by around lunchtime, later bringing sunny intervals or cloud for most of Kent.
The outlook for Sunday to Tuesday
It will be "predominantly very warm to hot with long sunny spells". A mix of sunny spells and heavy showers or thunderstorms on Monday is forecast, with further outbreaks of heavy rain on Tuesday, said the Met Office.
Why Kent is getting a heatwave
Met Office chief meteorologist Steven Ramsdale said: “High pressure is situated to the southeast of the UK, which is bringing more settled conditions and temperatures well above average for the time of year. While the highest temperatures are expected in the south, heatwave conditions have already been met for much of England and Wales, with parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland also likely to continue to see some unseasonably high temperatures.
“An active tropical cyclone season in the North Atlantic has helped to amplify the pattern across the North Atlantic, pushing the jet stream well to the north of the UK, allowing some very warm air to be drawn north. It’s a marked contrast to the much of meteorological summer, when the UK was on the northern side of the jet stream with cooler air and more unsettled weather.”
Find out more about things to do and activities in Kent with our free What’s On email HERE.[10]
References
- ^ Kent (www.kentlive.news)
- ^ Kent's coast or its attractions with lakes, lidos, swimming pools and splash parks (www.kentlive.news)
- ^ Met Office (www.metoffice.gov.uk)
- ^ Spectacular Kent reservoir with aqua park, adventure playground, soft play and a waterfront café (www.kentlive.news)
- ^ Dartford (www.kentlive.news)
- ^ Maidstone (www.kentlive.news)
- ^ Dover (www.kentlive.news)
- ^ Margate (www.kentlive.news)
- ^ Canterbury (www.kentlive.news)
- ^ HERE. (data.reachplc.com)