London Hailstorm Drops Temperatures Below Helsinki Ahead of Next Week's Heatwave
A severe hailstorm swept through London on Wednesday morning, causing temperatures to plunge and prompting residents to share videos of heavy hail hitting the capital. The unusual weather event even affected Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife, Lady Victoria, as they traveled from Downing Street to the House of Lords for the State Opening of Parliament. According to the Met Office, London temperatures hovered around 12C, making the city colder than northern European capitals like Helsinki, which forecasted 17C, and Oslo, with 15C. Cold conditions are expected to persist through the week, with highs of 14C on Thursday and 15C on Friday. However, a significant shift is predicted for the following week. BBC Weather reports that a mini-heatwave will arrive starting Thursday, May 21, with temperatures reaching 24C through Saturday, May 23. These warmer conditions, staying above 20C, coincide with the May half-term school holidays, offering a stark contrast to the current chilly and stormy weather experienced by Londoners.
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