Parts of southern England are set to bask in a fourth heatwave this week, with temperatures set to reach highs of 33C.
A yellow heat alert has been issued from 9am on Tuesday to 9am on Friday for the East and West Midlands, the south-east, south-west and east of England, as well as Yorkshire and the Humber.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a warning of possible “significant impacts” on health and social care services, including a rise in deaths among the elderly or people with health conditions, and an increase in drownings.
Since May, three heatwaves have already been recorded across the country with temperatures breaking records in June, as the UK faces more extreme weather fuelled by human-caused climate change.
July was 3C above average across the UK, according to provisional Met Office data.
This could put it among the hottest three or four months of July on record, said senior Met Office meterologist Dan Stroud.
Southern England has had just 1 per cent of its average July rainfall. England has had 5 per cent and the UK as a whole 20 per cent, according to the Met Office.
On Wednesday, temperatures are set to reach 33C in London and surrounding counties, with highs of 25 degrees recorded in Manchester and 26 degrees in Cardiff.
The hot weather will continue into Thursday but will remain cooler in the north, with highs of 19 degrees recorded in Belfast and 18 degrees in Glasgow.
Forecasters are expecting this week’s heat to be a “north-south split”, with clouds and outbreaks of rain continuing in Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England.
But the peak will be “almost a blink and you miss it”, with temperatures widely cooling close to average by the weekend, said Mr Stroud.
However, the forecaster warned that heatwave thresholds will need to be adjusted to take into account the warming climate, with fire chiefs also warning of the additional risk of wildfires.
At the height of the third heatwave, in mid-July, firefighters were battling 19 significant wildfires simultaneously in England and Wales.
A National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) spokesperson said: “With the Met Office warning that a fourth heatwave could develop this week, bringing another period of very hot weather to parts of the UK, fire and rescue services remain on alert and are continuing to prepare for renewed wildfire risk.”
Southern England has had just 1 per cent of its average July rainfall. England has had 5 per cent and the UK as a whole 20%, according to the Met Office.
The dry spell has contributed to low-water levels and North Wales and the Upper Severn became the first part of the UK to declare drought status on Thursday.
In addition, fires, if they start, are likely to become exceptionally severe on Wednesday in pockets of the east, south, and south-east England, according to Met Office data used by Natural England and Natural Resources Wales.
The “exceptionally severe” warnings focus on eastern England on Thursday.
Met Office chief meteorologist, Dan Suri, said: "After a prolonged spell of hot, dry and settled weather, some will see a temporary change this weekend as weather fronts move south-east across the UK.
“While some areas, particularly in the north and west, will see rain and showers, many places are likely to receive relatively little rainfall.
“For much of southern England, dry conditions are expected to remain the dominant feature, with temperatures recovering quickly next week and the potential for very warm or locally hot weather to return."
Here’s a look at the five-day weather forecast:
Today:
Dry with sunny spells in the south. Northern areas see a few showers initially, then rain spreads east later, this heavy at times on western hills. Near-normal temperatures, warmest south.
Tonight:
Outbreaks of rain spreading across northern areas tonight, turning heavy at times. Dry in the south with clear spells and a few fog patches.
Tuesday:
Rain in the north with some heavy downpours in Scotland at times and a small risk of thunder. Dry and sunny in the south, feeling more humid than of late.
Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:
Dry with sunny spells in the south, while northern areas see outbreaks of showers, sometimes heavy. Turning hot in the south, particularly on Wednesday, then cooler by the weekend.
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