The UK's all-time temperature record could be under threat this weekend as intense heat is expected to spread across Britain and Europe. Forecasters warn that temperatures may climb as high as 41C within days, potentially surpassing the 40.3C record set during the July 2022 heatwave.
Senior meteorologist Jim Dale of British Weather Services told the Mirror: “The big heat is on the US this week, but is set to return to the UK and Europe this weekend. That’s before the El Niño gets its act together.” Britain has already recorded its hottest June day on record after temperatures reached 37.7C in Lingwood, near Norwich, on Friday.
The upcoming heatwave coincides with the arrival of El Niño, nicknamed “Godzilla” this year due to its potential strength. Although the UK is not directly affected, the phenomenon can influence British weather through shifts in global patterns, with some impacts taking months to emerge.
The Met Office has stated that global average temperatures are likely to remain at or near record levels over the next five years. Jim Dale expressed concern that the world could reach 2C warming by 2030, well ahead of most scientific expectations, saying: “The IPCC’s 1.5C threshold is dead in the water.”
Meanwhile, millions of people in the central and eastern United States are preparing for dangerous temperatures ahead of the Fourth of July holiday. The UK Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning for parts of England and Wales ahead of the expected heatwave later this week.
