The Met Office has issued a warning about temperatures potentially reaching 35C on Wednesday, with weather maps indicating that more than 20 counties could experience temperatures exceeding 30C.
Tuesday will see a rise in hot weather conditions, particularly in the south-east of England, where temperatures are expected to reach 29C or 30C before peaking on Wednesday.
According to the Met Office forecast map for 4pm on Wednesday, Cambridge and parts of Norfolk and Suffolk could experience highs of 34C, while London and parts of the Home Counties may see temperatures of 33C.
The increasing temperatures are anticipated to surpass the threshold required to classify it as the fourth heatwave of the year in the UK. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber heat health alerts for regions including the South East, East Midlands, East of England, and London.
Yellow heat health alerts have been issued for areas such as the South West, West Midlands, and Yorkshire and the Humber. These alerts will be in effect from 9am on Wednesday, July 29, until 9am on Thursday, July 30. At present, there are no alerts for the North East, North West of England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.
The Met Office has stated that if temperatures meet specific thresholds for three consecutive days, another heatwave could be recorded. This year has already experienced three confirmed heatwaves in May, June, and July.
Gregory Wolverson, deputy chief forecaster at the Met Office, mentioned, “Although this heat spell will be brief, temperatures will rise rapidly in the first part of the week, especially in the southeast. By Wednesday, some regions could see temperatures in the mid-30s, potentially meeting the official heatwave criteria by Thursday in parts of the southeast.”
Weather conditions elsewhere are expected to be more changeable, with cooler and unsettled conditions arriving sooner from the north and west, bringing a mix of sunshine and showers. Northern areas might experience heavier showers with a slight risk of isolated thunderstorms throughout the week.
