A second heatwave is set to follow the UK’s current sizzling spell, potentially pushing temperatures close to a sweltering 40C and turning weather maps a fiery black and crimson.
Over the past few days, we’ve seen the mercury rise dramatically from last week’s highs of 24C to a scorching 31C on Thursday.
Despite a slight dip on Friday, the weekend is expected to bring even higher temperatures, with the southeast forecast to reach 32C. However, these blistering conditions could pale in comparison to what’s predicted for less than a month’s time, with a daunting 39C on the cards.
According to WXCharts, once this heatwave subsides over the weekend, another one will start brewing just over two weeks from now. Their maps for July 3 indicate that extreme temperatures from continental Europe will sweep across the English Channel, pushing UK temperatures back into the high 20s and low 30s.
Even typically cooler Scotland is set to warm up to 27C, while southern and central parts of England and Wales can expect to endure uncomfortable highs between 30C and 39C. Unlike the current heatwave, however, the worst of the heat seems set to hit central England, with the Midlands bracing for a stifling 39C.
Several towns, including Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Tamworth and Leicester, are set to face scorching conditions due to a searing heatwave. Residents down south won’t find much respite either, with temperatures on the south coast forecast to reach between 34C to 37C, while from the Welsh border to London they could climb even higher, to between 30C to 38C, reports the Mirror.
Even beyond Birmingham, cities such as Liverpool and Manchester are expected to sizzle at up to 37C, with the northeast coast not far behind at forecasted temperatures between 31C and 38C.
The Met Office’s long-range forecast, covering June 25 to July 4, doesn’t specify exact figures but suggests we brace for “occasional very warm weather” and “bursts of hotter air” coursing in from Europe.
According to the forecast: “Rather changeable conditions are anticipated through this period, as a series of Atlantic low pressure systems pass largely to the northwest of the UK.
“These will tend to bring some occasional rain or showers, most frequent in northwestern areas where it may also be rather breezy or windy at times.”
It continues to say that southern and eastern regions might experience some rain or showers too, but that these parts will generally enjoy longer dry spells under the sway of higher pressure.
Moreover, the forecast denotes the potential for sporadic bursts of intense heat due to south or southwesterly winds drawing in short-lived hot spells from across the channel, which may result in bouts of thunderstorms.
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