London could face another heatwave in early July, according to weather forecasting platform WXCharts, operated by MetDesk. The prediction comes as the capital recovers from a record-breaking June heatwave that saw four consecutive days of temperatures in the mid-thirties, prompting a surge in heat-related illnesses reported by the London Ambulance Service.
Forecast Details
WXCharts' technology indicates that normal temperatures with highs in the mid-20s will dominate the end of June and the first week of July. However, a five-day heatwave is forecast to strike central and southern England starting Tuesday, July 7, with the highest temperatures in London. On Friday, July 12, the map shows another wave of red temperatures above 30°C, marking at least the fifth consecutive day of the heatwave.
On July 7, temperatures are predicted to reach 32°C in London, with most of England above 30°C. The following day, July 8, could see even more extreme heat, with temperatures rising to 36°C in the capital. The heat is expected to persist on July 9 with a peak of 34°C, while similar highs in the low thirties are anticipated from July 10 through July 12.
Official Outlook
The Met Office’s long-range forecast states: “High pressure dominates the weather into the second week of July, especially across England and Wales... Temperatures are likely to be above normal on the whole, with a greater than normal chance of hot conditions developing at times.”
Context and Impact
The recent June heatwave shattered the long-standing record for June heat, which dated back to 1976, by more than 1°C. Scientists noted that such records are typically broken by only a fraction of a degree, highlighting the significance of this event. They also warned that the heatwave would have been virtually impossible 50 years ago, with human-driven climate change fuelling more intense and frequent extreme heat events.
During the June heatwave, several hospitals declared critical incidents. University Hospital Southampton was forced to cancel a number of planned operations and outpatient appointments due to the strain on services. The heatwave was driven by a “heat dome”—an area of high pressure that stalls over a region and traps heat—settling over western Europe. This phenomenon has been compounded by human-driven climate change, mostly caused by burning fossil fuels, which is making such extreme heatwaves more frequent and intense.
