Britain is bracing for another almighty sizzler as a brutal 39C mega-heatwave looks set to smash the record for the hottest day of the year. The UK hit a blistering 37.7C peak in Lingwood, Norfolk, back on June 26, but weather maps show ten counties could go past that figure when August arrives.
If the red-hot forecast plays out, it will mark the fourth official heatwave to batter the nation this summer, following sweltering blasts in May, June and July.
Forecast details
According to GFS weather charts, the mercury will shoot straight back up to 30C next Monday across the south and west. Forecasters then track an incredible 11-day stretch where the heat consistently hits at least 30C - topping out with an inferno on August 6.
London, alongside huge swathes of eastern and south-eastern England, could end up baking in near-unprecedented 38C to 39C heat. Meanwhile, the Midlands could see temperatures rocket to 37C, while South Yorkshire sweats through a 31C roasting.
Weather maps have turned a deep, alarming crimson, showing temperatures soaring way past what Brits normally expect for this time of year. Current data points to at least ten English counties breaking the 38C barrier at the start of next month.
Met Office outlook
Despite the impending August oven, the Met Office says the rest of July will remain "fairly changeable" with a mix of "wet spells" and "some drier and more settled interlude". Even so, officials confirm that "temperatures are still expected to be above average overall" with "potential for further heatwaves" as August progresses.
And the short-term forecast isn't exactly chilly either, with the Met Office warning that "temperatures [will be] possibly approaching 30C in places by Friday" in the south east.
Drought and hosepipe ban
The relentless sun is already taking a heavy toll across the country, with rivers and reservoirs rapidly running dry. Stark images from Howden Reservoir in the Peak District, as well as Lockwood Reservoir and the River Lea in London, show parched earth and empty riverbeds where water used to flow.
Thames Water has been forced to impose a temporary hosepipe ban to protect dwindling supplies. Desperate gardeners are forbidden from watering lawns, filling paddling or swimming pools, using sprinklers, or jet-washing outdoor surfaces.
Brief relief expected
There is a tiny bit of relief on the horizon this weekend, though it won't fix the drought. Steve Willington, a Met Office chief forecaster, said: "The high pressure has been a key feature of the UK's weather forecast over the last few weeks, bringing above-average temperatures and extremely dry conditions for many. However, we will begin to see a modest change as a weak weather front pushes south across the UK on Saturday bringing some much-needed rain, albeit it light and mainly concentrated in the north and west."
Greg Wolverson, a deputy chief forecaster, warned the wet stuff won't last long, adding: "Fresher conditions will prevail from Sunday onwards, but temperatures will remain around average for the time of year. Although there is a return to rain in the forecast, we have just come out of an exceptionally dry spell and the forecast rain is unlikely to be widespread or substantial. Many areas are likely to continue experiencing prevailing dry conditions for the foreseeable future, especially in southern England."
Safety advice
Brits are being urged to keep drinking plenty of water, stay out of the midday sun and keep an eye on vulnerable relatives and neighbours as the roasting conditions drag on.
UK counties set to bake in 38C or higher
- Cambridgeshire
- Norfolk
- Suffolk
- Essex
- Bedfordshire
- Hertfordshire
- Buckinghamshire
- Surrey
- Sussex
- Kent
