It’s fair to say summer in the North East is taking it’s time and we are yet to see a long period of hot temperatures and blazing sunshine as we head into the middle of June.

With summer solstice on its way this week, some might be wondering if we will be getting a reasonable summer at all, including any heatwaves.

Temperatures so far this month have been a few degrees below their seasonal average as an area of low pressure has kept conditions cool – a stark contrast to the hottest June on record, seen this time last year, where the mercury rose as high as 32.2C in Lincolnshire and Surrey.

But forecasters have suggested there is a change in the weather approaching next week, so let’s see what's in store for County Durham and if a heatwave could be on the horizon.

Durham and Darlington weather forecast for June 24-28

Here is the latest forecast for June 24-28 in Durham and Darlington according to BBC Weather:

Durham

  • Monday, June 24 – 21 degrees, sunny and light winds
  • Tuesday, June 25 – 23 degrees, sunny intervals and a gentle breeze
  • Wednesday, June 26 – 21 degrees, sunny and a gentle breeze
  • Thursday, June 27 – 22 degrees, sunny intervals and a gentle breeze
  • Friday, June 28 – 20 degrees, light rain and light winds

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Darlington

  • Monday, June 24 – 22 degrees, sunny intervals and a gentle breeze
  • Tuesday, June 25 – 24 degrees, sunny intervals and a gentle breeze
  • Wednesday, June 26 – 22 degrees, sunny intervals and light winds
  • Thursday, June 27 – 23 degrees, sunny intervals and light winds
  • Friday, June 28 – 20 degrees, sunny intervals and light winds

Although the weather looks like it will be improving next week and will be mostly sunny, temperatures appear to just miss out on the heatwave threshold in Northern England.

Met Office spokesperson Stephen Dixon said it had been “a cold start to June”, but added: “From the middle of next week, there’s that signal to see temperatures return more towards average for the time of year.”

Mr Dixon continued: “It’s important to note that wouldn’t mean a heatwave, it wouldn’t mean notably hot weather.”

He said a “cool pool of air over the UK” had “subdued temperatures” and resulted in an “unsettled” feel to the weather.

Are you hoping for a heatwave in County Durham this summer?Are you hoping for a heatwave in County Durham this summer? (Image: Getty)

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Mr Dixon added: “The jet stream dictates much of the UK’s weather and what we’ve got at the moment is the development of air, kind of, coming from the north and bringing down that cooler, polar arctic air mass over the UK which, in the summer, means the weather is cold on average.”

He explained this weekend will see “showers possible in many areas of the UK but some brighter spells in between, as well as a mixture of sunshine and showers further south”.

“But in between those sunny spells, it’s going to remain feeling a touch cooler than average,” he reported.

In some areas, such as the north of England and Scotland, thundery showers are possible.

What is classed as a heatwave in Northern England?

A UK heatwave threshold is met when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold, the Met Office explains.

The heatwave threshold in Northern England is a temperature of 25 degrees.