The Met Office has confirmed that a third heatwave is likely to hit the UK next week, however, this time, it will feel different. The forecast comes days after parts of Britain experienced unprecedented temperatures, with a new record set for the hottest June day ever.
Record-Breaking June Heat
Last week, temperature levels soared to 37.7C on Friday (June 26). The Met Office later confirmed this 37.7C was measured at Lingwood in Norfolk, east of Norwich, surpassing the 37.3C recorded at Santon Downham in Suffolk the same day - establishing it as a new June temperature record for Britain.
Forecast for the Third Heatwave
Now, sharing a new forecast on the third heatwave, the Met Office warned that the mercury levels could hit a peak of 33C next week as a high-pressure front moves in from the Azores. However, the weather experts said that there is one factor that will make this third heatwave of the year feel markedly different from the previous one. According to the meteorologists, while temperatures in the 30s remain possible, they are unlikely to match the June record, the MEN reports.
The Met Office has also indicated that the forthcoming heatwave is anticipated to be less humid, suggesting that conditions are likely to feel considerably more bearable than last week's episode.
Expert Commentary
Tony Wisson, a Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster 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 forecast for this weekend suggests that temperatures could approach high 20sC across parts of England, perhaps 30C in parts of the southeast, with values of mid to high 20sC 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."
Broader European Context
The series of heatwaves come as Europe experiences one of its worst summers with more than 1,300 excess deaths "linked to high temperatures in Europe" recorded since June 21. Temperature records have been broken across the continent in countries including Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic – as the extreme heat continued to move east.
