Much of the UK is set to swelter for the rest of this month with the mercury surging above 30C. The searing seat will grip large swathes of the country with baking air from southern Europe and Africa arriving later this week.
However not all of the UK will experience the heat. Scotland, Northern Ireland and north-west England will be enveloped by cloud with fresher winds and pulses of rain and drizzle. There are even reports of temperature records being broken in the coming weeks with suggestions the mercury could top 40C in some parts of southern England and bookies shortening odds on the hottest July ever.
Forecaster Brian Gaze, of The Weather Outlook, said it should start to warm up towards the end of this week: "Thursday is looking dry and bright in much of the UK, but outbreaks of rain continue to be a risk in northern and western Scotland. Warm in southern and eastern Britain.
"Friday should be dry, warm and sunny in much of the UK with temperatures in the south close to 27C (81F). Things remain more unsettled in the far north west."
The Express reported computer models indicating blowtorch conditions arriving by July 11. Mr Gaze said predictions change multiple times until the actual event occurs - but there is a possibility of record-breaking values being achieved.
He told Express.co.uk: “These computer models showing possible scenarios are run by forecasting centres hundreds of times a day. We can’t be specific when we are looking more than a week ahead, but, at the top end, some of these models have shown extremely hot conditions of up to 41C degrees.
“It's certainly the first time that I've seen a computer model show 40C in the UK. At the moment, the current prediction models for the same period of time show temperatures within the low 30s. If we start getting that air drawn up from southern Europe, we could see temperatures climbing to 35C degrees and even a little bit higher.”
The Met Office forecast for the week July 17-31 said: "Temperatures will be near or above normal, becoming warmer throughout July. We may see some very warm or hot temperatures, especially across the south."
The longer-term forecast for the remainder of July continued: "Higher pressure is likely to continue bringing generally fine and settled weather throughout the rest of July, which may extend more widely across the UK.
"However, we may see some less settled weather for a time at the start of this period, with northern areas likely to continue seeing showers, these extending further south at times. Temperatures will be near or above normal, becoming warmer throughout July. We may see some very warm or hot temperatures, especially across the south."
Bookies Ladbrokes has slashed its odds on the hottest July on record being achieved. Having been a 4/1 shot last week, the betting giant makes it just 6/4 for this month to enter the record books. Alex Apati, of Ladbrokes, said: "Sun cream sales could go through the roof this month with a record-breaking hot July well on the cards."
