The Met Office has warned that a return to heatwave conditions is "increasingly likely" with temperatures set to soar into the 30s within days. However, forecasters say this third heatwave will be significantly different from the previous two, featuring lower humidity and less extreme highs.
Record-Breaking June Heat
Last week's hot spell saw temperatures peak at a sweltering 37.7C in Lingwood, Norfolk, on Friday June 26, making it the hottest June day in UK history. This beat the 37.3C recorded at Santon Downham in Suffolk on the same day. The extreme heat triggered rare red and amber heat health alerts, which the Met Office said indicated a risk to life even for the healthy population.
Hospitals declared critical incidents as blistering conditions caused machines and IT to fail, while hundreds of schools across England closed early. Scientists said the extreme heat would not have been possible half a century ago, with human-induced climate change resulting in more severe and regular periods of extreme temperatures.
Respite Brief as Azores High Pressure Builds
After last week's record-breaking conditions, temperatures quickly settled and returned to seasonal norms. But forecasters say this respite may be brief, with high pressure from the Azores poised to push temperatures up again as early as this weekend.
Tony Wisson, deputy chief forecaster at the Met Office, explained: "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."
Potential Heatwave Thresholds
The Met Office has suggested conditions will begin to warm again next week, potentially reaching heatwave thresholds in certain regions. It added that temperatures in the 30s are possible, but unlikely to reach record-breaking levels. Forecasters also say the potential upcoming heatwave will not feature the elevated levels of humidity seen last week.
Wisson continued: "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."
More Bearable Conditions Ahead
Brits have been reassured that temperatures in the coming days are likely to feel considerably more bearable than last week's hot spell. Current Met Office temperature maps show 27C forecast across southern England on Sunday afternoon, with temperatures rising to 29C on Monday and Tuesday.
The Met Office's warning comes as the UK continues to experience more frequent and intense heatwaves, a trend scientists attribute to climate change. The upcoming heatwave, while less extreme, serves as a reminder of the ongoing shifts in weather patterns.
