New weather maps suggest Britain could be on course for another blast of intense summer heat, with temperatures steadily climbing over the coming days before peaking at 35C on July 9. The latest WXCharts maps, generated using the ECMWF weather model and Met Desk data on June 28, indicate much of England and Wales will see temperatures build throughout the first full week of July as high pressure strengthens across the country.
Temperature Build-Up Beginning July 6
According to the latest maps, the warm-up is expected to begin on Monday, July 6, when temperatures of 26C to 30C are forecast across large parts of England and Wales. The southeast could see highs of 31C to 32C, while Scotland is expected to remain noticeably cooler, with temperatures generally ranging between 19C and 23C.
The projected heat would follow a record-breaking end to June, when the Met Office confirmed a provisional temperature of 37.1C was recorded at Cavendish, Suffolk, on June 26. The reading made it the UK's hottest June day on record, surpassing the previous record of 36.7C set at Merryfield, Somerset, during the famous 1976 heatwave.
Intensification on July 7 and 8
New charts indicate that heat is then forecast to intensify on Tuesday, July 7, with much of central, southern and eastern England reaching 29C to 32C. Parts of southeast England are shown climbing to 33C, while much of Wales could experience highs in the upper 20s. Northern England is also forecast to become increasingly warm, with temperatures widely reaching the mid-to-high 20s.
By Wednesday, July 8, the hot conditions are projected to become more widespread. WXCharts maps show temperatures of 30C to 33C stretching across much of southern and central England, with isolated pockets of 34C developing across the southeast. Areas further north, including parts of northern England, are also forecast to enjoy temperatures in the mid-to-high 20s, while Scotland is expected to remain cooler, generally between 21C and 26C.
Peak Heat on July 9
If the maps prove to be correct, the hottest conditions would arrive on Thursday, July 9, when the forecast indicates parts of southeast England could reach highs of 35C. Temperatures of 32C to 34C are also shown extending across large areas of southern and eastern England, with much of the Midlands climbing above 30C. Elsewhere, Wales is forecast to see temperatures widely in the mid-to-high 20s, with some eastern areas approaching 30C. Northern England could also experience highs in the upper 20s, while Scotland is expected to remain significantly cooler, with many areas staying in the low 20s.
Met Office Outlook
While these charts show the intense heat gradually building, in its forecast covering Thursday, July 2 to Saturday, July 11, the Met Office said: "Temperatures are likely to start off near average in the north and slightly warmer than average in the south, but fairly widely tending to increase further as high pressure dominates the weather into the second week of July, especially across England and Wales."
Should the WX Charts forecast verify, the conditions would mark another notable spell of summer heat following the exceptionally warm weather experienced across the UK in late June. However, forecasting more than a week ahead carries greater uncertainty, and the exact temperatures and locations affected are likely to change as newer forecast data becomes available.
