Weather maps indicate that 38 counties across the UK could experience temperatures of 30°C or higher on Saturday, July 11, as the Met Office warns of an impending heatwave. The forecaster has stated that heatwave conditions are likely to develop next week, with high pressure set to remain the dominant feature of the UK weather pattern.
Temperatures to Climb Steadily
Temperatures are expected to rise day by day, with heatwave thresholds likely to be reached in parts of southern and eastern England. Many southern and central areas are forecast to reach the high 20s Celsius, while parts of south-east England could climb into the low 30s. Maximum temperature maps generated by WXCharts, using MetDesk data, suggest swathes of southern England could be baking in temperatures of 30°C or higher on Saturday. Hot conditions are also forecast across the Midlands and parts of northern England.
Hottest Areas and Potential 35°C Peak
London and the Home Counties, along with Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, and Oxfordshire, are expected to be among the hottest areas, with temperatures climbing into the low 30s. Some parts of Cambridgeshire could even hit 35°C. The 38 counties set to see temperatures of 30°C or above on Saturday 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 with Last Month's Heatwave
The Met Office says the heat is unlikely to match the intensity of last month's heatwave, which peaked at 37.7°C in Lingwood, Norfolk, on June 26. June temperature records were broken on three consecutive days before that peak. In its long-range outlook covering Friday, July 10, to Sunday, July 19, the Met Office states: "Temperatures by day will be widely very warm, hot or even very hot in parts of the south." There are signs the heatwave will ease, with temperatures returning to more normal summer levels during the week beginning Monday, July 13.
Regional Weather Breakdown
The forecaster says northern and western parts of the UK may be unsettled at the start of the period, with heavy rain or thundery showers. Dry and very warm weather is then expected across England and Wales, although there will remain a risk of thunderstorms moving in from France. High pressure is expected to extend northwards, bringing spells of drier and warmer weather to most of Scotland and Northern Ireland. Winds will generally be light to moderate, although they could become gusty around any thunderstorms.
