The United Kingdom is bracing for its third heatwave of the year, with the latest weather maps indicating that temperatures could soar to 35 degrees Celsius. Dozens of counties are expected to experience highs of 30C or more, according to data from WXCharts using MetDesk information.
Heatwave Conditions Developing This Week
The Met Office has confirmed that heatwave conditions are likely to develop this week, with high pressure set to remain the dominant feature of the UK's weather pattern. Temperatures are expected to climb day by day, with official heatwave thresholds likely to be met across parts of southern and eastern England. Many southern and central areas are forecast to hit the high 20s, while parts of south-east England could reach the low 30s, the forecaster stated.
Maximum temperature maps suggest that swathes of southern England could bake in temperatures of 30C or higher on Saturday, July 11. The maps also show 30C heat spreading into the Midlands and even parts of northern England. London and the Home Counties, along with Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, and Oxfordshire, are expected to be among the hottest areas, with temperatures widely reaching the low 30s and potentially peaking at 35C in Cambridgeshire.
Met Office and Health Agency Warnings
Met Office meteorologist Becky Mitchell previously said: "We have got a heatwave on the way across parts of southern England and Wales." She added: "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."
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, until 8pm on Saturday, July 11. The agency said that within the warning area, minor impacts were likely across health and social care services because of the high temperatures, including increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people and a greater risk to life to the same group.
38 Counties Set for 30C or Above
The 38 counties set to see temperatures of 30C or above on Saturday, July 11, include: Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Bristol, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Dorset, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Greater London, Greater Manchester, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Merseyside, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Rutland, Shropshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Tyne and Wear, Warwickshire, West Midlands, West Sussex, West Yorkshire, Wiltshire, and Worcestershire.
Comparison to June Heatwave
The Met Office says the heat is unlikely to match the intensity of last month's heatwave, which peaked at 37.7C at Lingwood in Norfolk on June 26. June temperature records were broken on three consecutive days before that peak. In its long-range outlook for Friday, July 10, to Sunday, July 19, the Met Office says: "Temperatures by day will be widely very warm, hot or even very hot in parts of the south."
