Hot and very humid air is set to sweep into southern England on Monday, with temperatures rapidly approaching the mid-30s, prompting fresh yellow and amber heat health warnings across England.
Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said: "Many parts of England and Wales will see plenty of sunshine and once again the temperatures will rapidly rise in that strong August sunshine so turning into an increasingly humid and very hot day in the south east of England in particular, where temperatures may well approach the mid-30s."
Mr Morgan added that while parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland will see some rain on Monday, England and Wales "will stay largely dry, with some clear spells, and a much more uncomfortable night for sleeping compared to last night".
Health warnings in force
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has placed the East Midlands, East of England, London and the South East under an amber heat health warning from 9am on Monday until 9am on Wednesday. The warning says "significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the high temperatures".
These impacts include a rise in deaths, particularly among the elderly and those with existing health conditions, increased demand on health and social care services, and the risk of indoor environments overheating.
The North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, West Midlands and South West are covered by a yellow heat health warning for the same period, meaning significant impacts are "possible" across health and social care services.
Forecast and drought
Popular holiday destinations Barcelona and Santorini are forecast to peak at 30C and 26C respectively on Monday, lower than the temperatures expected in parts of southern England.
The Met Office forecast for Monday reads: "Rain affecting much of Scotland on Monday, some heavy. Scattered showers across Northern Ireland and other western areas, though most of England and Wales fine with some hot sunshine. Humid."
Earlier this week, the Government declared drought across half of England. The affected areas are East Anglia, Hertfordshire and the whole of London, Thames Valley, Hampshire & the Isle of Wight, Devon & Cornwall, the West Midlands and Wessex. The whole of Wales is also in drought.
