Temperatures in seven parts of Wales are set to remain above 25°C for the next ten days as the country experiences its third heatwave of the year, the Met Office has confirmed. While not expected to break records, the prolonged warm spell will bring sustained heat across south Wales, with Friday July 10 forecast as the hottest day, potentially reaching 32°C in Monmouth.
Areas Affected by the Heatwave
The Met Office says highs in much of south Wales will not dip below 25°C for ten days. Areas including Cardiff, Swansea, Monmouth, Abergavenny, large parts of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Brecon and Merthyr will experience this prolonged heat. The heatwave threshold for most of Wales is 25°C for three consecutive days, while parts of south-east Wales require 26°C.
Forecast for Friday July 10
Friday looks set to be the hottest day of the heatwave, with temperatures creeping above 30°C. Monmouth is forecast to be the hottest place, with highs of 32°C expected. Temperatures are also forecast to rise above 30°C in Cardiff, Newport, Abergavenny, Pontypridd, Merthyr and Chepstow.
Comparison with Previous Heatwaves
This heatwave follows a record-breaking June, when Wales recorded its hottest ever June day as Bute Park in Cardiff hit 35.9°C. The exceptional heatwave at the end of June brought widespread disruption, including a red warning for extreme heat, hundreds of school closures, and cancelled rail services. The upcoming heatwave is not expected to be as extreme, but people are urged to take usual precautions.
Official Advice
Met Office deputy chief forecaster Steven Keates said: “Parts of the UK are entering heatwave conditions: the third heatwave in the UK so far this year. However, unlike the May and June heatwaves, we are not expecting this heatwave to be record-breaking. Temperatures this week are not expected to reach the highs we witnessed last month, though parts of southern England in particular are likely to see several days in the low 30s Celsius, and a few places could reach 34-35C later this week. Night-time temperatures again will not be as high as what we experienced in June, though some larger urban areas are likely to remain in the high teens Celsius overnight, especially later in the week, and there is a chance that a tropical night (where temperatures do not fall below 20C) may be recorded in a few places. Much of England and Wales will be hot, and the heat will extend to parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland too, though here peak temperatures are more likely to be in the upper 20s Celsius. With high UV and high temperatures, people should take the usual precautions with the heat and the sun.”
