Britons are set to endure another scorching spell as temperatures are forecast to hit 32C in parts of the country later this week. New weather maps from WXCharts show much of southern, eastern and central England turning a deep red, indicating soaring heat by Wednesday July 29. London is predicted to reach 32C or more, with similar readings expected across the South East, Midlands and South Coast.
A north-south divide will see significantly cooler conditions in Scotland, north-west England and Northern Ireland, where some rain is also forecast. The Met Office said the week would be “turning hot in the south, particularly on Wednesday, then cooler by the weekend”, with dry and sunny spells in the south and showers in northern areas.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a yellow heat alert from Tuesday to Friday for large swathes of England, warning of possible “significant impacts” on health and social care services, including a rise in deaths among the elderly and vulnerable. July has been 3C above average across the UK, provisional Met Office data shows, putting it among the hottest three or four Julys on record.
The heatwave has exacerbated drought conditions, with southern England receiving just 1% of its average July rainfall. North Wales and the Upper Severn became the first UK areas to declare drought status on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Met Office’s Fire Severity Index warns of “exceptionally severe” wildfire risk in eastern and southern England on Wednesday and Thursday, as firefighters continue to battle blazes across the country.
Senior Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna said heatwave thresholds will need to be adjusted to reflect the warming climate, adding: “Going forward they’ll need to be adjusted to take into account… current climate, otherwise we’re going to more frequently go into heatwaves.” The dry spell and high temperatures have already led to a series of wildfires in Wales and Scotland, forcing evacuations.
