New weather maps from WXCharts indicate that temperatures could reach up to 37C in parts of England within days, with 22 counties bracing for widespread 30C-plus conditions. The hottest areas are expected in Gloucestershire, West Sussex, and southern England, where peaks could hit a blistering 37C. Surrey is forecast to reach around 36C, while London may see highs near 34C. Much of central and southern England is likely to sit in the 33C to 35C range.
Timing and Extent of the Heat Blast
By Wednesday, July 15, from 6pm, many areas from Huddersfield southwards are expected to be at or above 30C. The heat will stretch across the Midlands, South East, and parts of the South West. However, not every region will experience extreme heat. Much of the North East, North West, and Scotland will see cooler highs averaging in the mid-20s. Huddersfield itself, along with parts of the Peak District, coastal areas of Lincoln and Norfolk, and parts of Cornwall, are expected to miss the highest temperatures, with many areas peaking in the late 20s.
Met Office Warning and Marine Heatwave
The Met Office has issued a new extreme heatwave warning, with UK waters potentially reaching severe levels in the coming days. According to the forecaster, surface waters in north-west European seas are experiencing moderate to severe marine heatwave conditions. Numerous areas are currently classified as strong and some severe. This means that waters have reached temperatures usually expected in August and are on average 2C warmer than usual, locally reaching +4-5C anomalies offshore parts of the Welsh and English coasts. Experts say these record-breaking temperatures are likely to have wide-ranging consequences for global weather systems, triggering shifts in fish populations and causing significant harm to multiple marine species.
Comparison with June Heatwave
Commenting on the upcoming heat surge, the Met Office outlined two reasons conditions will feel different from the heatwave in June. The forecaster said: "Firstly, temperatures are not expected to reach the same extreme levels, and secondly, the heat will not be felt across the whole country. A north-south split this weekend will bring warm sunshine to southern and eastern areas, while Scotland and Northern Ireland see cloudier, breezier conditions with rain at times, heaviest in northwest Scotland." An area of high pressure extending from the Azores will become increasingly influential through the weekend. While this will bring settled weather to many southern parts of the UK, a westerly airflow around the northern edge of the high will continue to push weather fronts across Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland. As a result, northern and north-western areas will continue to see periods of cloud, wind and rain, while much of southern England experiences largely dry conditions with some lengthy sunny spells.
Areas Set for 30C-Plus Heat
The following 22 counties are expected to face 30C-plus temperatures: Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Kent, Essex, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset.
