The Met Office has issued a verdict on the next heatwave as weather maps turn volcanic red for a 39C scorcher, with extreme temperatures expected again. The latest update follows warnings that another heatwave was "increasingly likely" within the next 30 days.
Temperatures to Peak on July 9
According to Net Weather maps, the UK can expect extreme highs next week, with temperatures peaking on Thursday, July 9. London is expected to reach 39C, with nearby Berkshire also hitting that mark. Hertfordshire is forecast to climb to 38C, while Gloucestershire will see 38C and other areas in the south west will reach the high 30s. In the North, Cheshire is forecast a warm 35C.
Should these temperatures materialise, further records will be broken. Last week, the hottest June day in UK history (37.7C) was measured at Lingwood in Norfolk on Friday, June 26, beating the 37.3C recorded at Santon Downham in Suffolk on the same day.
Fresh Heat Warning Issued
A fresh heat warning has been issued across the south of England and parts of the Midlands, in place from 12pm on Saturday, July 4, until 5pm on Wednesday, July 8, ahead of the heatwave. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the upcoming hot spell could impact health and social care services, after many services declared critical incidents during the previous hot weather.
Met Office Comment
Tony Wisson, Met Office deputy chief forecaster, said: "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."
He added: "The forecast for this weekend suggests that temperatures could approach high 20C across parts of England, perhaps 30C in parts of the southeast, with values of mid to high 20C 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."
