England is set to experience a scorching heatwave on Friday, July 31, with temperatures reaching 32C in several areas, according to the latest WX Charts weather maps. The maps turn dark red, particularly in eastern parts of the country, as the mercury climbs above 30C in 10 towns and cities.
Peak Temperatures at 6pm
The hottest conditions are forecast for 6pm, with London, Ipswich, and Norwich all expected to hit 32C. Cambridge, Northampton, Guildford, Peterborough, and Luton will see 31C, while Reading and King's Lynn are predicted to reach 30C. Earlier in the day, at midday, London will already be at 31C, with surrounding areas like Essex and Cambridge at 30C.
Regional Breakdown
While the east of England experiences the highest temperatures, other regions will also see significant warmth. The Midlands is forecast 29C, Bristol 27C, and Liverpool and Manchester 24C. The south coast could reach 26C, while the South West will be cooler with Exeter at 25C and Cornwall at 20C. Newcastle is predicted 24C, and parts of Yorkshire may hit 29C.
Record-Breaking Summer So Far
This latest heatwave follows a summer that has already set records. Met Office data up to July 15 shows the UK average temperature is 1.8C above the seasonal average. England's mean temperature is 2.4C above average, Wales 2.2C above, Scotland 0.9C above, and Northern Ireland 1.3C above. Met Office Science Manager Amy Doherty noted: "We're only halfway through summer, yet 2026 has already delivered more days above 30°C than the whole of 1976 and become the first year on record to reach 35°C in May, June and July." She added: "What stands out most, however, is that the warmth hasn't been confined to the daytime, with overnight temperatures tracking at record levels for this stage of the season. The high humidity so far this summer has also been unusual, making conditions particularly uncomfortable."
The 10 Hottest Areas on July 31
- London – 32C
- Ipswich – 32C
- Norwich – 32C
- Cambridge – 31C
- Northampton – 31C
- Peterborough – 31C
- Guildford – 31C
- Luton – 31C
- Reading – 30C
- King's Lynn – 30C
