Ipswich could be among the warmest places in the UK later this month as a weather heatwave builds toward May 20, with one long-range forecast putting the Suffolk town at 23C. The same maps suggest London and Cambridge could reach 26C, while Southampton and Brighton are forecast at 23C.
The forecast from weather station WXCharts shows a mini-heatwave spreading across parts of the country, with some locations set for 26C or even higher. A mini-heatwave is generally described as temperatures above 20C, especially when that level of warmth arrives at a time of year when it is not usually expected.
For Ipswich, the numbers would place it among the second-hottest major UK towns or cities according to the maps. That would be welcome news for anyone hoping for an early taste of summer, especially after a run of changeable spring weather.
But the broader outlook is less settled. The Met Office long-range forecast for May 13 to 22 suggests Suffolk may not get the warm spell shown in the WXCharts maps, with periods of rain or showers expected for many places, some of them heavy. The forecaster also says some drier interludes are likely, while temperatures should be close to or perhaps a little below normal for most of the period.
That leaves a clear split between the two outlooks: one pointing to a brief burst of heat, the other keeping the door open to cooler, wetter conditions. If the hotter scenario wins out, May 20 could bring the first real weather heatwave feeling of the month for Ipswich and much of eastern England. If the Met Office guidance proves closer to the mark, the warmth may prove shorter and more local than the charts suggest.
For now, the question is not whether Suffolk will see a warm day, but whether it will be warm enough to count as a mini-heatwave. On the evidence available today, Ipswich is in the frame — but not yet guaranteed the heat.
