The late May bank holiday weekend looks set to bring perfect conditions to head outdoors as temperatures rise... but what is this talk of a "mini-heatwave"?

It is true that by next weekend, daily highs could reach up to around 26 °C in south-east England, and widely reaching the low-20s across the UK.

Though enjoyable, this does not constitute a heatwave. The actual temperature needed varies depending on location. In London, one area that may see the 26 °C high, the threshold is 28 °C.

Elsewhere, the threshold lays between 25 and 28 degrees, cooler further north. It isn't just the temperature though, it's also the duration of the warmth.

In order to be designated as a heatwave, the threshold must be met for at least three consecutive days.

The "mini-heatwave"? This isn't an official meteorological term, but is often used by media to refer to periods of warmer weather and is a good indicator of a shorter, slightly cooler, burst of warmth.