The Met Office has forecast yet another heatwave for London, this time in September, which would be the country's sixth. In its long-range national forecast covering the capital, it states that high pressure will probably be dominant in the vicinity of the UK during the first week of September, bringing periods of dry weather for many regions. However, some more unsettled or changeable interludes are probable at times, bringing showers or longer spells of rain, although overall rainfall amounts are more likely to be below average than above. Temperatures will likely be above average, and some spells of hot weather and heatwaves are possible, especially in the south.
Climate expert warns of 'trouble'
This will be heatwave number six of the year, which is 'without a shadow of a doubt symbolic' of climate change, according to Jim Dales of the British Weather Services. He added that 'September is now a summer month, where as before it was autumn, seeing 30C potential in September is becoming less and less unusual.' Jim also told MyLondon that 'we need to do a lot more than just ban barbecues.'
PM's call to ban disposable barbecues
The weather expert's words come as Andy Burnham urged shops to stop selling disposable barbecues amid increased wildfire risk driven by this summer's droughts. He said he was urging 'all retailers big and small' to halt sales during extreme heat. The Prime Minister also said that there had been a 'significant number of excess deaths from heat this summer already' and urged the public to follow health advice, including checking in on elderly friends and relatives.
Record-breaking heat and rising toll
Two record-breaking heatwaves in May and June led to more than 2,800 excess deaths. The planet has warmed by about 1.3C since the 1850s, according to SaveTheChildren. Since the 1980s, the UK has been warming at a rate of about 0.25C every decade. Glaciers and ice caps are melting faster than ever before, and since 1975, over 9,000 billion tonnes of ice have melted from glaciers around the world. Sea levels are rising too - they've gone up nearly 20cm since 1900, reports the charity.
London's immediate forecast
London's weather for the coming days is as follows: Today, Thursday, August 13, is expected to be sunny with a high of 35C and a low of 21C. Friday, August 14, will be sunny with highs of 33C and lows of 20C. Saturday, August 15, will see sunny intervals, with a high of 28C and a low of 16C. Sunday, August 16, will have sunny intervals, with a high of 27C and a low of 16C. Monday, August 17, will see sunny intervals, with a high of 28C and a low of 18C. Tuesday, August 18, will have sunny intervals, with a high of 27C and a low of 16C. Wednesday, August 19, will see sunny intervals, with a high of 25C and a low of 14C.
The forecast for the sixth heatwave comes as the UK continues to experience the impacts of climate change, with rising temperatures and increased wildfire risks prompting calls for action beyond banning barbecues.
