Met Office warns of third heatwave as temperatures top 30C
Brits are set to bask in the sun again as a third heatwave is on the cards by the end of this week - with temperatures expecting to soar above 30C.
A new weather map from Met Office has revealed that the southeast could experience the hottest conditions, with London predicted to reach 29C from around 4pm this Thursday. Following closely behind is Cardiff at 27C, and Manchester at 25C.
From there, things will only get better with sun-seekers set to bask in sizzling temperatures, reaching into the low 30s. The weekend will be off to a bright start before humidity kicks in and remains overnight. Sadly, most of Scotland won't make it past the low 20s until the weekend, with some areas to the far north likely to reach only 16C.
Heatwave conditions are expected to be declared on Friday, when temperatures will have stayed above the seasonal average for three days in a row.
Marco Petagna, senior meteorologist at the Met Office, explained that the weather will start to turn balmy on Wednesday, with dry conditions returning after several areas were plunged under thunderstorm warnings last night. The expert said: 'I think Wednesday is probably going to be the day when we could start to reach the thresholds of 25 to 28 degrees, depending on where you are."
He added: "We probably won't actually reach an official heatwave until around Friday, to give the three consecutive days at those temperatures. But temperatures are going to continue to climb as we go toward the end of the week and certainly by Friday and Saturday we could see 30 degrees, perhaps just nudging into the low 30s.
"At the weekend, we could just start to see humidity increasing a little bit as well and nighttime temperatures look like they are going to be, so it will be starting to become more uncomfortable by night.'
Mr Petagna added: 'It's a bit of a question mark going through the weekend early next week as to how long the heat will last and how high the temperatures will get, because some models are sort of pushing the heat away a bit more quickly, whereas others keep the heat going.
'At this stage it looks as though certainly into next weekend, we should hold on to hot weather across the south of the UK and temperatures could again certainly get into the low 30s in a few spots. And we are going to see some very high pollen and very high UV levels as well. But at this stage, we've managed to escape some of the very highest temperatures, those seen across Spain and Portugal in particular, where it has reached the mid-40s.'
Outlook for Wednesday to Friday
Mainly dry as high pressure builds through this period. Plenty of sunny spells, though the far northwest will be cloudy initially. Turning very warm, locally hot once again.
Long range forecast
The forecast, based for Jul 11 to Jul 20, states: "Many parts of the UK are expected to be part way through a period of high temperatures and humidity at the start of this period. The duration, geographical extent and intensity of the heat are all rather uncertain at present, but there is the potential for some very hot weather to be realised, especially across some inland southern and eastern areas.
"With this also comes the possibility of thunderstorms, in part because of the high temperatures, but also in association with any frontal systems moving in from the west, which would ultimately usher in cooler and fresher conditions. Towards the latter part of the period, northwestern areas stand a greater chance of experiencing rather more changeable conditions, with drier and occasionally hotter spells more likely further southeast."
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