UK weather: how hot will it get and how bad will hay fever be?

Emily Cleary
·3 min read
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - 2022/04/16: People enjoy the warm and sunny bank holiday in Clissold Park in London. (Photo by Steve Taylor/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Londoners have been making the most of the sunshine, but further north the weather has been cooler and windier. (Getty)

Britain basked in sunshine on Monday, and the fine weather is set to continue for most, but a consistently high pollen count could cause discomfort for those with tree allergy hay fever.

Temperatures reached 22ºC in the South East, but much of the north of the country saw rain showers and cool winds, with Scotland and Northern Ireland barely exceeding the low teens.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill told Yahoo News UK that reports of a forthcoming heatwave this week may be optimistic, but that the majority of the country would enjoy average temperatures for this time of year, with a chance of them rising higher than average in time for the weekend.

How hot will it get?

Burkill said: "There were reports over the weekend of a heatwave this week, but that's not happening and things will be more changeable.

"The next few days will not be as warm as they have been recently, but by the end of the week and the start of the following week things should be more settled."

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - 2021/09/07: Tower Bridge is pictured from the City Hall as people sit under the sun. As the UK is hit by a heatwave in September, Londoners are seen spending time outdoors under the intense sun. (Photo by Belinda Jiao/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Warm weather is expected to return in time for the weekend, when temperatures may reach 25ºC or 26ºC degrees in the south. (Getty)

He predicted that while temperatures are likely to dip for most from Wednesday, but by Friday they could be back up to 23ºC or 24ºC, and much of the wind and rain will have passed.

He added: "We could be looking at 25ºC or 26ºC by the weekend, and most of the country should enjoy some decent warm weather."

On Monday the UK recorded hotter temperatures than Turkish capital Istanbul, but the heatwave currently covering Spain and much of mainland Europe has not reached UK shores.

How bad will pollen count be?

While a hot weather warning is unlikely until next week, the pollen count is predicted to be high across the UK for much of the week, especially in the south.

Burkill said: "There will be a high pollen count across much of England this week, but pollen at this time of year is predominantly oak and birch.

The pollen count is predicted to be high across much of the UK this week (Met Office)
The pollen count is predicted to be high across much of the UK this week. (Met Office)

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"Grass pollen comes slightly later, in June and July, and this is what triggers most hay fever allergies. So although high, the pollen count is not as impactful on most people at this time of year."

Those who do suffer with tree allergy hay fever may find it harder than usual to obtain their usual remedy as stocks of chlorphenamine maleate, the active ingredient in brands such as Piriton, run dry.

A spokesman for High Street chain Boots said: "There are a very small number of lines that are currently out of stock due to a current, industry-wide shortage of the active ingredient.

"However, we are expecting this to be resolved soon and new deliveries are expected in the coming weeks."