The Met Office has warned that the UK could be bracing itself for yet another heatwave, with weather models now indicating that Britain might even witness its hottest day on record. Met Office forecaster Neil Armstrong has suggested that this week should remain "pleasant" for the majority, with temperatures largely expected to hover in the low to mid-20s.
Record-Breaking Heatwave on the Horizon
This comes hot on the heels of a record-shattering heatwave last week, which delivered the warmest June day ever recorded at 37.7C. The GFS weather model hints that further records could be smashed next week. The UK's current all-time temperature record stands at 40.3C - set during the sweltering July 2022 heatwave - however, data indicates we could be mere days away from witnessing a staggering 41C.
GFS model charts for next Monday indicate that highs of 35C to 36C are plausible across much of southern, eastern and central England at around 6pm. Temperatures of 33C are anticipated as far north as Yorkshire, with 31C forecast for South Wales.
Temperatures Could Rocket to 41C on Tuesday
Temperatures could then rocket to unprecedented levels next Tuesday. The charts reveal highs of 40C and 41C stretching from Yorkshire down to London and across the eastern regions, reports the Mirror. Conditions should subsequently ease on Wednesday, with temperatures peaking at 35C in the south-east, according to the GFS weather model. Temperature anomaly maps for next Tuesday depict the UK blanketed in red and black, indicating that temperatures are set to soar well beyond the seasonal norm.
The GFS model suggests that as many as 17 counties, all located in England, could experience temperatures of 40C or above. UK counties potentially facing 40C or higher next week include: Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Surrey, and Kent.
Met Office Forecast: Possible Heatwave Early Next Week
The Met Office has indicated that a resurgence of heatwave conditions appears "increasingly likely" as we approach next week. Nevertheless, the national forecasting service suggests that, presently, the probability of "extreme high temperatures" comparable to those experienced last week remains minimal. Met Office forecaster Tony Wisson said: "The forecast for this weekend suggests that temperatures could approach high 20s across parts of England, perhaps 30C in parts of the southeast, with values of mid to high 20s in Wales. Although a return to heatwave conditions is looking increasingly likely for some areas, the likelihood of such extreme high temperatures or high levels of humidity as last week is currently low."
