Bank holiday is a washout but don't fret - summer will start tomorrow
Beatriz Oliveira, 8, enjoys the day despite the rain at the Melton Show
By peter reeve and tom mack
The bank holiday might have been a washout but do not despair – the next two months are set to be scorchers.
Weeks of glorious sunshine are being forecast, with temperatures expected to reach 30C in June and July.
Leicester Mercury weatherman Dave Mutton said: "From tomorrow onwards, it's going to get sunnier and warmer, with temperatures up to 25C by the end of this week.
"There will be some very hot weeks in June and July, along with maybe two or three days of wet weather.
"I reckon we could see temperatures this summer as high as 30C.
"My prediction is based on what happened in February, when temperatures were above average and we didn't get any snow.
"My records show that's only happened twice before – in 1959 and 1976 – and we had very hot summers in those years."
Last year, the average temperature in June and July was about 22C, with a maximum of 27.7C.
For Twycross Zoo, predictions of a scorching summer are "fantastic news".
Rob Bracken, the attraction's commercial director, said: "The warm weather brings out the crowds. Last June and July we welcomed 140,000 visitors and we would hope to increase this number to 160,000.
"As regards the animals, we provide them all with shade and we give the animals frozen food or drinks, which the great apes love.
"We also have to take care that rainforest animals don't get sunburnt so, in some cases, we use sun block."
Joe and Lizzy Lomas run Eye Kettleby Lakes, near Melton, a fishery which has a restaurant and 10 holiday lodges.
Mr Lomas said: "It's much nicer when people are showing up in a good mood because they know they're going to have nice weather.
"A lot of them are going to be fishing or going out to places such as Rutland Water, Twinlakes, Belvoir Castle or Melton market, so good weather is important for them."
Heatwaves are particularly welcome for ice-cream seller Wesley Wilkinson, aka Mr Whippy, of Ravenstone.
"For me, a bit of hot weather means I can pay the bills," he said.
"Last year was rubbish because of the weather. If it's hot you're going to sell twice as many ice creams.
"What I really need is a lot of hot, sunny weather."
The Met Office is predicting June will get off to a windy start, despite the rising temperatures.
It is forecasting gusts of up 30mph tomorrow and Friday. 作者: gyy 时间: 2011-5-31 11:00
