The sunny weather is expected to persist as motorists are advised to brace for the busiest summer holiday exodus in four years on the roads.
Temperatures in the UK have exceeded 30C for the past 11 days, with a prolonged hot summer forecasted to continue for another seven to 10 days. The RAC anticipates that 14.1 million drivers will embark on trips or vacations between Friday and Sunday, marking the second-highest number since data tracking began in 2016, following 18.8 million in 2022.
The upcoming weekend will witness abundant sunshine and dry conditions, although there might be isolated showers and a slight drop in temperatures. The possibility of the heatwave extending beyond the next 10 days into late July remains uncertain.
David Hayter, the Met Office’s deputy chief meteorologist, mentioned that the persistent high pressure causing the current fine weather will persist for at least another week before shifting slightly to introduce cooler air, potentially ending the string of 30C days. However, some areas may still experience heatwave conditions by the week’s end.
The continuation of the ongoing heatwave hinges on whether London experiences three consecutive days above 28C or 25C for the rest of the country. Britain has been coping with a scorching summer characterized by above-average temperatures and warm nights, with England notably registering temperatures 2.4C higher than the usual 21C average.
Wales is sitting at 2.2C above its typical average of around 19.3C, while Scotland and Northern Ireland, although closer to their seasonal norms of 17.3C and 18.6C respectively, are still running above average at 0.9C and 1.3C, respectively.