A week-long heatwave is expected across parts of the UK, with temperatures forecast to reach 34C in the south-east of England. The Met Office has indicated that while the weather will be hot, it will not be as extreme as the heatwave experienced in June.
Temperatures to climb from Saturday
Temperatures in the south of England could reach 28C on Saturday, according to the Met Office. The forecaster expects the mercury to rise to 29C on Sunday in the south-east, then approach the low 30s Celsius next week, peaking at 34C on Thursday or Friday.
Health warnings issued
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow heat health alerts for England covering the east, East Midlands, West Midlands, south-west, London and the south-east. The alerts are in effect from midday on 4 July until 8pm on 11 July. The agency warned that the high temperatures could have minor impacts on health and social care services, including increased use of healthcare by vulnerable people and a greater risk to life for that group. It also highlighted an increased risk of water-related incidents due to cold water shock and drowning.
Forecaster comments
Met Office meteorologist Becky Mitchell said: “We have got a heatwave on the way across parts of southern England and Wales, temperatures are already quite high across the south-east today. We could get 28C in London.” She added that northern areas will be cloudier with spells of rain, creating a north-south split. “There will be highs of 29C tomorrow in the south. At the start of next week, we will see temperatures approach the low 30s.”
Mitchell noted that the peak of the heat appears to be Thursday or Friday with 34C in the south-east. “By comparison to the heatwave we saw in June, this heatwave won’t be as hot and humid, but it will be a prolonged spell of hot weather which lasts around a week.”
Hosepipe ban in Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Southern Water has announced a hosepipe ban starting at 12:01am on 10 July in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. The ban prohibits customers from using hosepipes for non-essential activities such as watering gardens, filling paddling pools, hot tubs, swimming pools, ponds or fountains, and washing cars, patios or windows.
Comparison to June heatwave
The UKHSA’s new alert follows a heatwave last week when the Met Office issued a rare red warning for extreme heat. It was the first time since extreme heat warnings were established in 2021 that a red warning was issued for three consecutive days in the UK. During that period, the UK set a provisional June temperature record of 37.7C in Lingwood, Norfolk, beating the previous June record of 35.6C from 1976 by more than 2C.
The frequency and intensity of heatwaves have increased worldwide. Met Office projections indicate that hot spells will become more frequent in the future climate, particularly in the south-east of the UK. Temperatures are projected to rise in all seasons, with the most intense heat expected in summer.
