After a brief respite from a fortnight of temperatures above 28°C, London could see another heatwave within days. The mercury is set to climb again this week, with BBC Weather predicting highs of 29°C on Friday and 30°C on Saturday, July 31. However, the capital's heatwave threshold requires three consecutive days of 28°C or more, so the coming days may not officially qualify until the final weekend of July.
Forecast Details
As of Monday afternoon, Wednesday is expected to reach 26°C, followed by 27°C on Thursday. Friday will edge up to 29°C, with a balmy 25°C weekend. Next week, temperatures will remain warm, with highs between 26°C and 27°C through July 31. According to BBC Weather, a fourth heatwave could sweep across the capital on the final weekend of July, with Saturday being the hottest at 30°C, while Friday and Sunday hover between 28°C and 29°C.
Rainfall and Drought
Despite the heat, some rainfall is expected between July 31 and August 2, which would be a welcome sight in London. The city has not seen rain since June 27, marking over two weeks without precipitation. The Met Office reports that the south-east of England has experienced the longest unbroken spell of no recorded rainfall in 30 years, leading to drought conditions and hosepipe bans affecting millions.
Impacts of the Heat
The dry weather has turned London's green spaces into tinderboxes, prompting the London Fire Brigade to warn of wildfire risks. Train services have also been disrupted by the unprecedented heat, with widespread cancellations across the transport network.
