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

The British summer has finally decided to make an appearance – just as a ‘pollen bomb’ is exploding in almost every part of the country.

The first heatwave of the year will see temperatures in London and some parts of the South East rise to 29°C, while most of England will see highs of up to 27°C.

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

However, life is all about balance. This sultry weather will be accompanied by a ‘pollen bomb’, in which plants and fungi release millions of pollen grains at once.

Where will the ‘pollen bomb’ strike?

Nearly one in two Britons suffer from hay fever. With pollen counts high everywhere but the north of Scotland over the next five days, we can expect lots of runny noses and itchy eyes.

According to the Met Office pollen forecasts, the only regions in Britain not experiencing ‘very high’ pollen levels today are the Highlands and Eilean Siar and Orkney and Shetland.

‘Grass pollen will rise in warm, dry weather. Also nettle, dock and plantain,” the National Weather Service says.

‘Spores: A little Alternaria and medium Cladosporium when it is warm; Leptosphaeria after rain.’

Pollen counts will remain the same until Wednesday, when hay fever sufferers will finally get some relief. By little we mean that six entire regions will have a medium or high level, rather than a very high level.

Experts told Metro.co.uk earlier this year that pollen season has begun starts around March and lasts until Septemberso we are currently in the worst case scenario.

Pollen counts tend to increase as temperatures rise. That is why the heat wave has caused a ‘pollen bomb’ to go off.

When will the heat wave start?

The Met Office has predicted that a potentially gray start to the weekend will be burned out by warm and humid weather from Sunday.

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

Met Office forecasters said some parts of central and southern England will reach potential heatwave levels with persistent sunshine until Wednesday, providing a welcome break from the bleak misery of 2024.

“After a brief, less quiet interlude today and tomorrow, good conditions will return on Sunday and early next week,” said Dan Rudman, the Met Office’s deputy chief meteorologist.

‘For much of Britain this will be accompanied by a rise in temperatures, reaching 20°C in many places.

‘In some central and southern areas, temperatures are likely to approach those required for heatwave conditions.

‘Heatwave conditions should remain in place for three consecutive days, and it is possible that some parts of Britain may reach heatwave thresholds by early to mid next week.

‘Whether or not everyone experiences heatwave thresholds, most of Britain will experience the highest temperatures yet this year.’

Weather warnings

The arrival of a possible heatwave has prompted the RNLI to issue a warning to people planning to hit the beach to stay safe as they cool off in the water.

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

‘Entering the water during hot weather can increase the risk of cold water shock due to the sudden changes in skin temperature. Enter the water gradually and avoid jumping or diving immediately to reduce the risk of cold water shock.

‘If you plan to go to the beach, we strongly recommend that you visit one that is patrolled and swims between the red and yellow flags. This is the safest area and most closely monitored by lifeguards.

“If you get into trouble in the water, float to live. Tilt your head back with the ears submerged and try to relax and control your breathing. Use your hands to help you float and then call for help or swim to safety if you can.

‘In the event of an emergency on the coast, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard or ask for the fire brigade if you are near inland waters.’

The brief spell of warm weather is likely to come to an abrupt end, with heavy rain and thunderstorms expected on Tuesday evening.

The Met Office added: ‘While temperatures may peak on Wednesday, it also looks like we will see this high pressure dissipate from Tuesday evening into Wednesday as things become more unsettled.

‘This disturbance also brings the risk of some heavy showers or thunderstorms, with the heaviest rain likely to fall in the west or south-west.’

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

For more stories like this, view our news page.

MORE: The world’s best pastry chefs revealed – full list of British winners

MORE: UK weather forecast: Hope was dashed for anyone hoping to see the sun on the longest day of the year

MORE: Map shows first tropical storm of the season heading towards US with severe flooding

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.