The Met Office has confirmed that a third heatwave is on its way to the UK, with temperatures potentially reaching a sweltering 34C in the South East by Thursday or Friday. The latest forecast from WXCharts indicates that parts of the country will experience 30C or above for six consecutive days, from Tuesday to Sunday.
Temperature Forecast
Temperatures are expected to climb to 29C on Sunday, then approach the low 30s at the start of next week, peaking at 34C on Thursday or Friday in the South East. According to the Met Office, this will be a prolonged spell of hot weather, but it will not be as hot and humid as last month's heatwave.
Met Office meteorologist Becky Mitchell stated: "We have got a heatwave on the way across parts of southern England and Wales. There will be highs of 29C tomorrow (Sunday) in the south. At the start of next week we will see temperatures approach the low 30s. The peak of the heat appears to be Thursday or Friday, 34C in the South East. By comparison to the heatwave we saw in June, this heatwave won't be as hot and humid, but it will be a prolonged spell of hot weather which lasts around a week."
Health Alerts and Precautions
Yellow heat health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) covering the East Midlands, East, South East and South West of England, including London, and the West Midlands. These alerts are in effect from midday on Saturday until 8pm on July 11. The agency warned that minor impacts are likely across health and social care services due to high temperatures, including increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people and a greater risk to life for the same group. Additionally, there is a potential increase in water-related incidents, including risks from cold water shock and drowning.
A hosepipe ban has been announced by Southern Water for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, starting at 12.01am on Friday.
Counties Expected to Reach 30C or Above
The following counties are forecast to see temperatures of 30C or more from Tuesday to Sunday:
- Tuesday: Greater London, Kent, Surrey
- Wednesday: Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Cambridgeshire, Birmingham, Kent, Greater London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Berkshire
- Thursday: Suffolk, Essex, Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Greater London, Berkshire
- Friday: Sussex, Surrey, Greater London, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Berkshire
- Saturday: Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey, Greater London, Bristol, Oxfordshire, Herefordshire
- Sunday: Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Bristol, Gloucestershire
The South West is set for scorching temperatures on Sunday, with the heatwave expected to persist for around a week.
