London could experience highs of 34C today (Tuesday, August 12) amid the fourth heatwave of the year. The week began with scorching temperatures in the capital as 31.9C was recorded in Heathrow Airport on Monday (August 11) which is often among the warmest spots in the whole country.
This heat is set to increase even further to the mid-30s, setting the tone for warm and sunny weather all week. An amber heat health alert has been issued by the UK Health and Security Agency from 9am today until 6pm on Wednesday due to the strain this could put on emergency services.
Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said on Monday that the UK is on day two of the heatwave and there is “overall a very hot, very warm week to come”. The Met Office defines a heatwave as temperatures meeting or exceeding a certain threshold for three consecutive days or more.
This is 25C for most of the UK, but rises to 28C in London and its surrounding area, where temperatures are typically higher. Lower pressure to the west and higher pressure to the east of the country is creating a southerly airflow which is drawing in hot and humid air from Europe, he added.
“As we go through the week, there’s lots of sunshine and the air isn’t really going anywhere … that sort of then hangs around,” he added. It’s drawing in at the moment and then sort of stays across the UK for the rest of the week.”
After highs of 33C or 34C this afternoon, the Met Office expects slightly cooler temperatures of 28C on Wednesday before the mercury climbs to 29C on Wednesday and 31C on Friday.
We can then expect a more comfortable 26-27C peak temperatures over the weekend, coupled with sunny weather.
Hour-by-hour forecast for London today
8am: 20C and cloudy/sunny
9am: 22C and sunny
10am: 25C and sunny
11am: 27C and sunny
12pm: 30C and sunny
1pm: 31C and sunny
2pm: 31C and sunny
3pm: 32C and sunny – Met Office forecasting possibility of temperatures rising to 34C in parts of London
4pm: 32C and sunny – Met Office forecasting possibility of temperatures rising to 34C in parts of London
5pm: 32C and sunny
6pm: 31C and sunny
7pm: 29C and sunny
8pm: 28C (night time)
9pm: 28C (night time)
10pm: 25C (night time)
11pm: 23C (night time)
Coolest spots in Central London to escape the heat
The City of London Corporation has invested £7.8m into delivering 50 ‘cool spots’ across the square mile by 2027 where people can escape soaring temperatures. These include providing more shaded parks and greener walking routes.
So far the key areas of improvement have been in Finsbury Circus, Houndsditch and Jubilee Gardens, Moorgate London Wall. New Change and Little Trinity Lane.
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