Map shows where the ‘pollen bomb’ will hit Britain just as summer finally arrives

The British summer has finally decided to show itself – just as a “pollen bomb” is exploding in almost every part of the country.

The first heatwave of the year will see temperatures rise to 29°C in London and some areas of the south-east, while highs of up to 27°C are expected in most parts of England.

So grab your sunglasses, flip flops and beach gear because the day we never thought would come is almost here.

But life is all about balance. This mild weather is accompanied by a “pollen bomb” when plants and fungi release millions of pollen grains at once.

Where will the “pollen bomb” hit?

Almost one in two Brits suffers from hay fever, and with pollen counts high everywhere except northern Scotland over the next five days, we can expect a lot of runny noses and itchy eyes.

According to the Met Office pollen forecast, the only regions in the UK not experiencing “very high” pollen levels today are the Highlands, Eilean Siar, and the Orkney and Shetland Islands.

“In warm, dry weather, grass pollen rises. This also applies to nettles, dock and ribwort plantain,” explains the national weather service.

“Spores: In warm weather some Alternaria and moderately Cladosporium; after rain Leptosphaeria.”

Pollen levels will remain the same until Wednesday, when hay fever sufferers will finally be given some relief. Well, by some, we mean that six whole regions will have either medium or high levels, not very high.

Experts told Metro.co.uk earlier this year that the pollen season starts around March and lasts until SeptemberSo we are currently in the middle of the worst phase.

Pollen concentrations tend to increase as temperatures rise, which is why the heat wave has triggered a “pollen bomb.”

When does the heat wave start?

The Met Office has predicted that a potentially grey start to the weekend will be offset by hot and humid weather from Sunday.

But don’t despair if you’re in other parts of the UK, such as Cornwall, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland – it will still be a pleasant 22-24°C.

Met Office forecasters said there would be a risk of a heatwave in some parts of central and southern England until Wednesday and it would be sunny throughout, providing a welcome change from the bleak misery of 2024.

“After a brief, less calm spell today and tomorrow, fine weather conditions will return on Sunday and early next week,” said Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Dan Rudman.

“In much of the UK this will be accompanied by a rise in temperatures, reaching temperatures around -25°C in many places.”

“In some central and southern areas, temperatures are likely to reach levels required for a heatwave.”

“Heatwave conditions are expected to persist for three consecutive days and it is possible that some parts of the UK will reach heatwave threshold early to mid next week.

“Whether or not the heatwave continues in all parts of the UK, temperatures across most of the UK will be the highest this year.”

Weather warnings

The arrival of a possible heatwave has prompted the RNLI to issue a warning to all beachgoers to remain safe when cooling off in the water.

Samantha Hughes, national water safety partner at the RNLI, said: “The warm weather forecast will mean we will see more visitors to the coast and we always want people to enjoy their stay safely.”

“In warm weather, entering the water can increase the risk of cold shock due to the sudden change in skin temperature. Enter the water slowly and avoid jumping or diving straight in to reduce the risk of cold shock.

“If you plan to go to the beach, we strongly recommend that you go to a beach with lifeguards and swim between the red and yellow flags. This is the safest area and is most closely monitored by lifeguards.

“If you get into trouble in the water, you must stay on the surface. Tilt your head back, keep your ears under water and try to relax and control your breathing. Use your hands to keep yourself above water and then call for help or swim to safety if possible.

“In the event of an emergency on the coast, call 999 or 112 and request the coastguard or fire service if you are near inland waters.”

However, the short heat wave is likely to come to an abrupt end, as heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected until Tuesday night.

The Met Office added: “Although temperatures may peak on Wednesday, it also looks like we may see a breakdown of this high pressure system from Tuesday night into Wednesday as the situation becomes more unsettled.”

“With this disturbance there is also the possibility of some heavy showers or thunderstorms in some locations, with the most persistent rain likely to be in the west or southwest.”

Contact our news team by emailing webnews@metro.co.uk.

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