The Met Office has confirmed the day this week the UK could officially see heatwave conditions again, as Britain's hot summer continues. The scorching temperatures began with a late May heatwave, followed by another in June, when temperature records for the month were broken.
The mercury soared as high as 37.7C in Norfolk, climbing well above the previous June record of 35.6C set in Southampton in 1976. Early July brought another heatwave, which lasted as long as a fortnight in some places, BBC Weather reports.
Potential fourth heatwave by Thursday
Large parts of Britain continue to see long sunny days, and the national weather agency now suggests another heatwave could come towards the end of the working week. In an update published this afternoon (Monday, July 27) the Met Office says high pressure will bring dry, fine and increasingly warm weather for many this week.
"Parts of the South-east will see the highest temperatures, with the potential for heatwave conditions to be met in some places by Thursday, though those further North-west will see more unsettled weather," it said. It would mark the fourth heatwave of the summer in the UK.
Temperatures rising from Tuesday
Temperatures are expected to rise from tomorrow (Tuesday, July 28) and "much of England, Wales and eastern Scotland will enjoy a dry day with sunny conditions," the national weather agency anticipates.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is expecting impacts on the health system and has issued Heat Health Alerts for parts of England from Tuesday to Thursday this week, the Met Office notes.
In western Scotland and North-west England it will remain cloudier on Tuesday, "with periods of rain or drizzle and a small chance of heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms across Northern Ireland and southern Scotland later in the day."
Temperatures are expected to be high in the South-east, widely reaching between 29 and 30C. However, the peak of the heat is expected to be on Wednesday, with the potential for maximum temperatures of 35C across southeastern England.
Gradual transition to cooler conditions
Thursday marks the start of "a gradual transition to cooler conditions" across much of the country. But the heat will persist for a little while longer in the southeast, "where another hot day with temperatures widely around 29°C could bring parts of the region into official heatwave conditions."
The Met Office's Deputy Chief Forecaster Gregory Wolverson said: "This is a short-lived spell of heat, but temperatures will climb quickly through the first half of the week, particularly in the southeast. By Wednesday, some areas could see temperatures in the mid-30°Cs, and while the heat will not be widespread across the whole of the UK, it will be enough for parts of the southeast to likely meet official heatwave criteria by Thursday.
"Elsewhere, the weather will be more changeable, and the change to cooler, more unsettled conditions will arrive sooner from the north and west, with a mix of sunshine and showers. Across northern areas, it is possible there will be heavier showers with a small risk of isolated thunderstorms through the week."
Wildfire risk remains elevated
Meanwhile, though there was some rainfall over the weekend, with more expected through the week, "particularly over Scotland and Northern Ireland, wildfire conditions are forecast to remain elevated over much of England and Wales this week."
A National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) spokesperson said: "Fire and rescue services have already faced significant pressure this summer, responding to wildfire incidents during prolonged spells of warm and dry conditions. With the potential for further hot weather ahead, services remain prepared and ready to respond.
"While firefighters will always be there when they are needed, the vast majority of wildfires are preventable. That's why we're asking everyone to do their bit, take extra care and be aware of the increased risk. It only takes one spark to start a wildfire, and what may appear to be a small fire can quickly escalate, threatening communities, wildlife, natural habitats and the firefighters tackling the incident.
"Simple actions can make a real difference. Avoid using disposable barbecues in parks, the countryside and other open spaces, never discard cigarettes on the ground, and always take litter home. By taking these simple precautions, everyone can play a part in preventing wildfires and protecting our communities and environment."
Looking forward to the end of the working week, temperatures are expected to be much closer to average for most of the country by Friday.
