Britain is set to boil in soaring temperatures once more as the searing summer continues, with 32C hitting parts of the country just days from now. New weather maps from WXCharts show much of southern, eastern and central England roasting in high temperatures by Wednesday July 29.
Heat forecast
London is predicted to hit 32C or more by the middle of the week, and much of the South East, Midlands and South Coast will see similar mercury readings. A forecast from the Met Office for the week said the country will be "turning hot in the south, particularly on Wednesday, then cooler by the weekend". It added: "Dry with sunny spells in the south, while northern areas see outbreaks of showers, sometimes heavy."
North-south divide
The nation will also experience something of a north-south divide, with temperatures dropping considerably in Scotland, northwestern England and Northern Ireland. In some positive news for gardeners and farmers, there may also be some rain in these areas. The wet weather could also provide welcome relief for those battling wildfires which have sprung up across the country. At the height of the third heatwave, in mid-July, firefighters were battling 19 significant wildfires simultaneously in England and Wales.
Health warning
A yellow heat alert has been issued from 9am on Tuesday to 9am on Friday for the East and West Midlands, the south-east, south-west and east of England, as well as Yorkshire and the Humber. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a warning of possible “significant impacts” on health and social care services, including a rise in deaths among the elderly or people with health conditions, and an increase in drownings.
Record temperatures
July was 3C above average across the UK, according to provisional Met Office data on the month so far, which could put it among the hottest three or four months of July on record. Heatwave thresholds for some counties were nudged up by a degree four or five years ago, said senior Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna. “Going forward they’ll need to be adjusted to take into account… current climate, otherwise we’re going to more frequently go into heatwaves. It’s a moveable thing, really, as we go through a warming world,” he added.
Drought and fire risk
Southern England has had just 1% of its average July rainfall. England has had 5% and the UK as a whole 20%, according to the Met Office. The dry spell has contributed to low-water levels and North Wales and the Upper Severn became the first part of the UK to declare drought status on Thursday. In addition, fires, if they start, are likely to become exceptionally severe on Wednesday in pockets of the east, south, and south-east England, according to Met Office data used by Natural England and Natural Resources Wales. The “exceptionally severe” warnings focus on eastern England on Thursday.
European wildfires
Meanwhile, blazes have wrought destruction in mainland Europe this week, with 220,000 forced out of their homes in south-west France and 116,000 evacuated in Spain.
