The Met Office has indicated that another official heatwave is becoming increasingly likely across parts of the UK, with 26 counties expected to see temperatures reach 30C or higher by Tuesday, July 7. The warning follows last week's record-breaking heat, which saw the UK's provisional June temperature record broken on three consecutive days, culminating in 37.7C in Norfolk on Friday.
Forecast Details
According to the latest weather models from forecaster WXCharts, the first 30C temperatures could arrive as early as Saturday, July 4, with Kent expected to be the first county affected. By Monday, July 6, the heat is forecast to intensify, with London and surrounding areas seeing temperatures of 30C to 31C, and parts of Gloucestershire expecting similar highs.
On Tuesday, July 7, the hot spell is expected to spread further, with peaks of 33C in Greater London and Berkshire. The highest temperatures will then move gradually east across the country. The affected counties include London, Essex, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Gloucestershire, Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset, Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Rutland, Leicestershire, West Midlands, and Staffordshire.
Met Office Statement
Deputy Chief Forecaster Tony Wisson said: “Toward the weekend, high pressure will continue to build in across most of the UK as it extends from the Azores. This will lead to more settled, warm or very warm conditions for many, especially across England and Wales, though some rain may still affect the far north.”
The Met Office noted that temperatures could climb into the high 20s across parts of England this weekend, with some locations in the southeast potentially reaching 30C. Wales could also see highs in the mid to high 20s. Forecasters confirmed that another heatwave is becoming increasingly likely in some parts of the UK early next week.
Comparison to Last Week's Heat
However, the Met Office stressed that it is not currently expecting temperatures or humidity to reach the extreme levels experienced during last week's record-breaking spell. Tony Wisson added: “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.”
Last week, much of England and Wales was placed under red and amber extreme heat warnings, with the Met Office urging people to take precautions. The provisional UK June temperature record was broken three days in a row, with the highest reading of 37.7C recorded in Norfolk on Friday.
