The mercury is expected to reach 34C in London this afternoon, with 32C forecast for the Midlands, 29C in the north-west and 27C in Cardiff. Temperatures will remain cooler across Northern Ireland and Scotland, with the Met Office predicting afternoon highs of 21C in both Belfast and Glasgow.
The GFS weather model indicates temperatures surging back above 30C on Wednesday next week, with highs of 33C possible across western England, 32C in Wales, and 31C as far north as Yorkshire.
For the following Thursday, data suggests temperatures could reach 34C quite broadly across eastern, central and southern parts of England, with the majority of England and Wales climbing above 30C once again.
Similar conditions may persist into Friday, when 34C highs are possible across western areas, and on Saturday when 34C is anticipated across the south-east of England.
Temperature anomaly maps for next week show England and Wales covered in deep red shading, indicating where temperatures are expected to climb well above the seasonal norm.
Altogether, the GFS model suggests 15 counties could witness the mercury hitting 34C or above next week — all located in England.
Met Office weather forecast.
The Met Office indicates that temperatures are expected to stay above average next week, though we are unlikely to experience “exceptional heat”. There is additionally a possibility of “thundery interludes” across southern regions.
The national weather agency says: “Towards mid August, high pressure may become rather more dominant towards the north of the UK, with lower pressure further to the south.
“This means there is a greater chance for Atlantic frontal systems or thundery interludes to affect southern areas, certainly in comparison to recent weeks, though rainfall amounts could be quite variable with some areas seeing relatively little.
“For the most part, temperatures look to remain above average, especially in the south, though perhaps without the exceptional heat we have seen in recent weeks.”