Britons can expect more hot weather ahead, with temperatures set to soar towards 35C following a record-breaking June. Weather forecasts indicate that 30 counties in the UK will experience temperatures hitting 30C or higher next Wednesday and Thursday as a wave of hot air moves across England.
The UK recently saw a new June temperature record of 37.7C in Lingwood, Norfolk, surpassing the previous record of 35.6C from 1976 by over 2 degrees. The Met Office reports that temperatures in southern regions will start in the low to mid-20s this week before climbing to the high 20s and early 30s over the weekend and into the following week.
According to the latest Netweather charts, the peak of the heatwave is expected to occur next Wednesday, initially impacting central and southern England before spreading eastward the next day, particularly affecting London, the Home Counties, Essex, Kent, and East Anglia.
Temperatures are forecast to reach the low 30s in southern and central England on Wednesday, with some areas like Oxfordshire possibly hitting 35C. By Thursday, the heatwave will expand further eastward, with many counties likely to exceed 30C as the mercury rises significantly. Large parts of the Midlands are also anticipated to remain above 30C during this period.
In the northern regions, including parts of Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, and Merseyside, temperatures are expected to approach 30C as warm air moves up through England. Over Wednesday and Thursday, the core of the heat is predicted to shift eastward, turning southern and eastern England into deep red zones as temperatures reach the low to mid-30s.
Wales is likely to experience temperatures in the mid to high 20s, while eastern Scotland could see temperatures around 27C to 28C. Northern Ireland, western Scotland, and the far north are expected to remain cooler, escaping the most intense heat.
The Met Office’s forecast for July 6-15 indicates that high pressure will dominate England and Wales, bringing dry and warm conditions with ample sunshine. Scotland and Northern Ireland may initially experience more cloud cover and periodic rain, but they could also see drier and warmer weather as the high-pressure system extends northward during the week.
Temperatures are expected to rise widely, with some areas in the southeast possibly experiencing localized hot conditions, although not as intense as the previous week.