Temperatures are expected to soar to 36C for parts of England, which will be hotter than Athens this week, as a fresh heatwave sweeps across the country.
Following persistent dry and hot weather, England and Wales are now in the fifth heatwave of the year. Parts of Britain will be hotter than the Greek tourist hot spot, which can expect highs of only 33C on Thursday.
The Met Office has predicted temperatures will climb “significantly” across the UK this week, increasing to between 32C and 34C on Wednesday.
While weather maps currently show peaks of 35C across the South East and East Anglia, the Met Office said temperatures were likely to rise to 36C in parts of those regions on Thursday.
Deputy chief forecaster Mike Silverstone said the heatwave was expected to be fairly widespread across England and Wales.
“A fairly widespread heatwave is likely across large parts of England and Wales, with hot conditions developing in places,” he said.
“The heat is expected to peak for much of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland on Wednesday, with up to 34C possible in parts of central and southern England and southeast Wales. East Anglia and southeast England, however, could see temperatures even higher on Thursday.
“Humidity levels are also expected to increase through the week, which may make conditions feel more uncomfortable, particularly overnight.”
The UK has experienced a consistent North-South split in the weather across this summer, with Scotland and Northern Ireland having heavy spells of rain over the weekend.
Almost three-quarters of England and the whole of Wales are now in drought, prompting emergency services to warn of tinderbox conditions.
Temperatures are expected to reach 25C in Edinburgh on Wednesday and 26C on Thursday. Further south, temperatures will remain above 30C across England and Wales. The mercury is expected to peak at 31C as north as Leeds on Wednesday and highs of 32C in Darlington on Thursday.
Newcastle-upon-Tyne is forecast to experience 30C while Leeds and York experience scorching 33C heat.
Temperatures are set to remain hot on Friday with highs of 32C in London and 30C in Cambridge. But by Saturday most of England and Wales will experience cooler temperatures in the mid 20s.
All of England is under an amber heat health alert lasting until 9pm on Friday. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned of risks to the lives of the elderly and vulnerable people and significant effects on health and social care services.
Met Office five-day weather forecast
Today
Cloudy with outbreaks of rain in the northwest. Elsewhere, largely dry and sunny. Warm in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but very warm to hot across much of England and Wales, with locally very hot conditions in the west and southwest.
Tonight
Cloudier remains in the northwest with some patchy rain. Dry elsewhere with long clear spells. Warm to very warm across parts of central and southern areas.
Thursday
Very warm becoming hot or very hot across much of England and Wales. Chance of an isolated evening shower in the northeast. Heavier showers for Northern Ireland and Scotland later.
Outlook for Friday to Sunday
Mixed conditions, with sunny spells and mostly dry weather in the south. More cloud, showers and occasional rain in the north. Temperatures near normal, but warm in the southeast.
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