The UK’s third heatwave of the year has arrived, and is forecast to bring temperatures of up to 35C in parts of the UK. However, unlike the previous two heatwaves, this one is expected to feel noticeably different.
This heatwave, which the Met Office said has officially started in the southeast of England, is not likely to be as extreme as the one that hit much of England and Wales a couple of weeks ago, during which June temperature records were shattered. The next hot spell is to be much more bearable, the Met Office suggested today, as humidity levels will remain low. Met Office weather forecaster Alex Deakin said on Monday “the heat this week won’t be as oppressive as the last heatwave in June”.
He added: “The humidity isn’t as high, so the nights perhaps not quite as uncomfortable as they were a few weeks ago. But still, this is a pretty unusual hot spell of weather.”
Deakin said that, at the beginning of this week, the heat will be “really concentrated in the south”.
Across southern portions of the UK, the forecaster said we will see the mercury reach 30C-31C on Tuesday, and it will be fresher further north.
“Temperatures in the north west of Scotland will be in the mid teens at best and it will be quite cloudy here with some outbreaks of rain”, said Deakin.
He continued: “During Tuesday night and Wednesday is when the high will really establish itself more widely.
“That will mean the warmer air will push further north, so it will be a hotter day certainly for the likes of eastern Scotland and much of northern England.”
It will be a warmer day across the northeast on Wednesday, with temperatures around 28C-30C, further south the temperatures will push 30C.
Deakin added that temperatures are likely to peak Thursday and Friday at 33C, 34C and perhaps up to 35C. Across Northern Ireland and Southern Scotland, temperatures are likely to get into the high 20s during that period.
Amber heat health alerts have been issued from the UK’s Health Security Agency, for the Midlands, London, eastern and southern England. They are valid from 9am on July 9 until 9pm on July 12.
The Met Office defines a heatwave as a period of three or more days recording temperatures above the seasonal average.
As temperatures were recorded above 28C in southeastern England for three days, the forecaster announced this evening the area was now officially in a heatwave.