UK weather maps show 23C May heatwave looms — see 14 hottest counties

Britons are set to enjoy a 23C heat surge within weeks — as weather maps have turned red signalling the likelihood of a warm spell in May. According to forecasting maps from WXCharts and Netweather.tv, scorching conditions are expected to strike several parts of the country on 21 May, with temperatures climbing to 23C and affecting at least 14 counties. The weather charts indicate that the sweltering conditions will begin to creep across Britain on the evening of 20 May, as temperatures across England rise to around 20C. By the evening of 21 May, areas around London and Surrey are forecast to sizzle at 23C, according to maps from Netweather.tv. The maps also show that most areas across England and the Midlands will see highs of 20C during the evening. The warmest spot on Sunday was Plymouth where the mercury hit 18C. It was as cold as 9.6C in Kirkwall, Orkney, on Sunday and temperatures even struggled in the south, with 11.3C recorded in Wych Cross, East Sussex. But, as the Express reports, rain is on the cards before the warm blast. The Met Office's long-range forecast covering 15 to 24 May states: "Changeable and at times rather unsettled conditions look to dominate through the middle part of May, with low pressure often close by. "This means periods of rain or showers, some of which could be heavy, for many places, though some drier interludes are also expected.", "For the most part, temperatures are likely to be close to or perhaps a little below normal, with winds often blowing from a northwesterly quadrant. By the end of this period, pressure may increase towards the southwest, which could bring more in the way of dry weather here." Greater London - 23C Berkshire - 23C Surrey - 23C Worcestershire - 21C Warwickshire - 21C Gloucestershire - 21C Oxfordshire - 21C Leicestershire - 21C Norfolk - 20C Suffolk -20C Essex - 20C Cambridgeshire - 20C Bedfordshire - 20C Hertfordshire - 20C