The UK is bracing for its sixth heatwave in three months, with temperatures expected to reach a scorching 37C next week. The hot conditions are forecast to begin on Sunday and persist for six days, according to weather maps.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued yellow heat health alerts across southern England and the Midlands from tomorrow until Tuesday, with a good chance they could be extended. Thursday was the first time in 36 days that nowhere in the country was in a heatwave, but the respite is set to end.
Heatwave to hit from Sunday
Netweather maps show temperatures will start climbing this weekend, soaring above 30C, and the hot conditions are expected to stay for six days. WXCharts maps indicate highs of 34C in southern areas on Wednesday, August 12, with the south and east of England, as well as parts of Wales, turning red on the maps.
Temperatures above 30C are expected to stretch from Sussex up to Lincolnshire, with highs in the 20s reaching Yorkshire and Devon. The Met Office predicts mixed weather for the period between Monday, August 10 and Wednesday, August 19.
Drought conditions persist
Half of England is currently under official drought conditions, with some areas recording almost no rainfall in July. The Met Office has described July as a 'historic' month for dryness, sunshine, and exceptional warmth. May and June saw temperature records broken during spells of scorching weather.
Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGovern said: "It's not good news - we really need the rain... You obviously need soil moisture for those plants to continue to thrive and we are seriously lacking in soil moisture across a large part of England and Wales."
He added: "I've just picked a point there, but it's representative of a large area of England or Wales, 1% soil moisture in that top 40 centimetres, less than 30% supposedly over a long period time. It really isn't good news for plants and all sorts of wildlife that need plant life and so on."
