The Met Office has issued a warning that the UK could experience another heatwave, with weather maps turning volcanic red as temperatures are set to reach 32C in some areas. According to data from WXCharts.com, 22 counties are expected to see temperatures above 30C, extending through the Midlands, into the South East and along the South Coast.
Neil Armstrong, a Met Office Chief Forecaster, said: “With last week’s heat behind us, there will be much relief for many this week as we are forecasting a pleasant week of summer with temperatures in the low to mid 20s°C for many.” However, the heat is expected to build again from Tuesday, with conditions turning more changeable and potentially reaching heatwave thresholds for some.
Full List of 22 Counties Expected to Exceed 30C
The following counties are forecast to experience temperatures above 30C: Greater London, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Surrey, Kent, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire.
WXCharts.com predicts that the heat will persist throughout the week, with temperatures in excess of 30C recorded through Friday 10 July and into the weekend. The north of England, Wales and Scotland are expected to remain much cooler, with average temperatures in the mid to high teens.
Rain and Thunderstorm Warnings
The Met Office warns that from Tuesday into the midweek, conditions are forecast to turn more changeable, with showers or longer spells of rain, heaviest and most frequent in the north and west. The south and southeast are expected to stay mostly drier and often warm. Some of the showers on Tuesday could be thundery, and there is potential for a thunderstorm warning to be issued.
Tony Wisson, 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.”
Weekend Forecast and Comparison to Last Week
Tony added: “The forecast for this weekend suggests that temperatures could approach high 20s°C across parts of England, perhaps 30°C in parts of the southeast, with values of mid to high 20s°C 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.”
Last week saw temperature records broken regularly, with a new record temperature for June of 37.3°C recorded in real-time at Santon Downham in Suffolk. A high of 37.7°C was seen on Friday in Lingwood, Norfolk, which if verified would be the new June temperature record for the UK. The upcoming heatwave is not expected to reach those extreme levels, but could still bring significant warmth to many areas.
