THE UK is set for a 16-day heatwave following one of the coldest and wettest Mays in almost 25 years.

From next week, temperatures will be rising before a 20C heatwave that will last for 16 days in June, according to long-range forecaster Accuweather.

The warmer weather will begin a week today, on Bank Holiday Monday, when the mercury is set to reach 20C.

The warm, dry, and sunny conditions are set to be above 20C every day, between June 15 to July 1.

This May is set to e one of the wettest ever recorded, surpassing May 1967 which was 131.7mm of rain across the UK.

Annie Shuttleworth, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said that the UK has already seen 131 per cent of its usual month's rainfall.

May 2021 is also said to be a 2.1C colder than the season average.