Temperatures could reach the mid-30s Celsius in parts of the UK this week, with the Met Office warning that the country should brace for its first properly hot summer's day. The forecaster said that the coming months will also bring heatwaves, which are becoming more likely due to climate change.
In south-east England, temperatures could hit 32C (89.6F) on Friday, potentially reaching the mid-30s, making the area hotter than the Canary Islands, Portugal, Jamaica, Costa Rica and Cyprus. This would mark the hottest day of the year so far, beating the previous record of 27.5C recorded at Heathrow on 17 May.
Met Office meteorologist Steven Keates said: “We’re set to see probably a brief spell of hot weather at the end of this coming week.” He added that the country could face heatwaves between June and mid-September, with an increasing likelihood of such events, particularly in the south and south-east.
A heatwave is defined by the Met Office as at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding a threshold that varies by county. In March, the Met Office updated these thresholds for eight counties from Surrey to east Yorkshire, reflecting an undeniable warming trend for the UK.
Dr Mark McCarthy, head of the Met Office National Climate Information Centre, said: “Although heatwaves are extreme weather events, research shows that climate change is making these events more likely.” He cited a study into the Summer 2018 heatwave, which was found to be 30 times more likely now than in 1750 due to higher CO2 concentrations.
The NHS advises staying out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, keeping hydrated, using sunscreen and wearing loose-fitting clothes during hot weather.
