Things will warm up this week, with heatwave criteria being reached in parts of the UK by the end of the week, the Met Office says. Temperatures could climb into the low 30s, although the heatwave isn’t expected to see temperatures quite as high as the one experienced at the end of June/early July.
On Wednesday, we’ll start to see temperatures rise. Deputy Chief Meteorologist Dan Holley said: “High pressure from the Atlantic will gradually exert its influence over the UK this week. We’ll see temperatures build day-on-day, with the potential for hot conditions to become quite widespread by the end of the week and into the weekend.
“On Wednesday, temperatures could reach up to 28C in parts of England, climbing to 30C on Thursday and 32C by Friday. By this stage, heatwave criteria are likely to be met in parts of England and Wales, and in parts of Scotland over the weekend.
“High temperatures are likely to persist into the weekend, especially away from coasts with onshore winds, reaching the low 30s in portions of England and Wales, and accompanied by rising humidity and warmer nights. This heatwave is likely to last longer than previous ones so far this summer, and affect a wider area, with the focus for some of the highest temperatures displaced across more central and western areas at times. In addition, pollen and UV levels will also be very high in some areas.”
There are signs that less hot, or fresher, conditions may arrive from the west into the start of next week, but exactly how quickly this transfers eastwards is uncertain. It’s certainly possible that hot conditions may persist for a while longer, especially towards the south and east.
In the UK, a heatwave is officially defined when a location records at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold. This threshold varies by county, reflecting the diverse climate across the UK.
Waters to the south of the UK are currently experiencing a significant marine heatwave, with the conditions expected to persist and intensify over the coming week.
