A high temperature period is expected to sweep across the United Kingdom this week, with weather projections indicating that temperatures may reach up to 34C in certain areas.
This upcoming hot stretch will mark the fourth heatwave experienced in the UK so far this summer. Officially, a heatwave is confirmed when temperatures exceed a specific threshold for three consecutive days, which typically ranges between 25C and 28C throughout the country.
According to the GFS weather model, temperatures could climb to 31C in southern England by around 6 p.m. today. London is forecasted to reach 30C, while the Midlands could experience highs of 29C and northern England may see temperatures rising to 26C. This comes after a recent warning from BT for households still using a UK landline.
On Tuesday, temperature maps suggest that Gloucester could see temperatures peaking at 34C. Southern and central England, as well as Wales, could experience highs ranging from 31C to 33C. In Scotland, temperatures might hit 26C, while Northern Ireland is expected to reach 24C.
For Wednesday, the weather maps indicate that the highest temperatures will be concentrated in central and eastern England, with highs of 30C to 32C projected. London is once again anticipated to hit 30C.
Greg Dewhurst, a senior meteorologist at the Met Office, mentioned that the rising temperatures in the upcoming days could meet the criteria for a heatwave in some parts of the UK as early as Tuesday. He explained that while England and Wales are likely to experience significant temperature increases, Northern Ireland and Scotland may not see as widespread heat due to the current weather patterns.
Dewhurst stated, “The heat is expected to intensify over the next few days, particularly across England and Wales, with temperatures reaching around 31C in central and southern England, high 20s in the rest of England and Wales, and low 20s in Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland. Some isolated heavy showers and thunderstorms may develop in southwest England and Wales due to the heat.”
He added, “Tuesday is expected to be mainly dry with plenty of sunshine, potentially marking the peak of the heat. Temperatures could rise to about 33C in central and southern England, possibly triggering thunderstorms later in the day. Different areas may reach heatwave thresholds on either Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on their location.”