UK weather: First day of summer forecast sees rain, cool temperatures and gale-force winds

Weather will dramatically improve as the week goes on

The first official day of summer is expected to be a typically British affair with heavy showers, cool temperatures and blustery gale force winds in some areas.

Forecasters expect 1 June to be a cool start to next week as very unsettled low pressure front moves in off the Atlantic and sweeps down the UK.

“It’s not looking great,” a Met Office forecaster confirmed to The Independent, adding that the weather was expected to dramatically improve as the week went on.

“There’s quite a cool and blustery wind affecting the UK next week, with some heavy showers and a chance of gale force winds towards exposed areas near the Irish coasts and the west coast of Scotland,” they said.

He continued: “Best of the weather will be in the southeast – and even there people should expect some showers with temperatures struggling to get above 16 or 17 degree.”

However, the forecaster offered hope.

From mid-week the low pressure front is expected to move off with warmer and more settled patterns emerging from Wednesday.

“Things will be improving through the week and Wednesday is expected to be transition day,” he said. The “massive contrast” with the start of the week could see temperatures in London and part of the southeast as high as mid-20s.