Temperatures could reach as high as 35°C in what could be the longest heatwave in four years, making it hotter than places in the Caribbean. The heatwave could become the longest since 2018 when there was a 15-day heatwave.
The temperature gauge is set to rise over this weekend, and the Met Office have already said there are some indications of more "extreme temperatures" by the end of next week, with no rain in the forecast for the next 10 days.
The highest temperatures could reach 33°C on Tuesday, although the forecasting services says temperatures will also be widely above average this weekend and through next week. A Level Three Heat Health Alert has been issued for next week, highlighting the potential health impacts of this type of weather.
According to the forecasting service, a heatwave is an extended period of hot weather "relative to the expected conditions of the area at that time of year, which may be accompanied by high humidity".
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The threshold is met when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold. The threshold varies by UK county.
Summer 2018 was the equal-second warmest summer in the UK since records began in 1884, with the summer of 1976 being the hottest. Heatwaves are extreme weather events, but the Met Office says research shows that climate change is making these events more frequent.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, David Oliver, said: “The warm weather over much of England and Wales could last for much of next week. In the short term, many can expect temperatures in the mid to high 20s Celsius over the weekend, and then in the low 30s Celsius during the start of next week. Much of next week will remain warm for the time of year as well as dry and sunny for many areas.”
They say the warm spell will likely continue through much of next week and the following weekend, especially across southern areas.
A spokesman said: "Looking this far ahead always brings some uncertainty and so the exact temperatures are yet to be determined. However, there is potential for temperatures to climb higher than over the coming days."
Speaking on the latest Met Office 10-day trend Met Office meteorologist and presenter Alex Deakin said: “There's good model certainty that we’ll see a peak in temperatures in the early part of next week but there’s one possible scenario where temperatures get even higher late next week. A more likely scenario is that temperatures return to something similar to Monday and Tuesday and there’s also a chance temperatures could drop much closer to average.”
Deputy Chief Meteorologist David Oliver added: “There are some runs, or solutions, that allow more extreme temperatures to develop into next weekend, which is something we will be monitoring closely over the coming days and adding more detail around into the new week.”
Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said: “We want everyone to enjoy the hot weather when it arrives, but also to check in on their vulnerable family, friends and neighbours to make sure they are prepared for the warm conditions ahead.
“High temperatures are predicted for a prolonged period, so make sure to follow our simple health advice to beat the heat, such as covering windows exposed to direct sunlight and making sure that fridges, freezers and fans are working properly.”
The current hottest day of the year in 2022 was on June 17, which 32.7°C was recorded at Santon Downham in Suffolk.
It is not just the UK that is seeing high temperatures, health chiefs in the Canaries have issued an urgent alert as the temperature across the islands is set to soar into the mid-30s and more.
They are urging holidaymakers to take extra special care in the sun and not to risk heatstroke or severe sunburn.
The alerts range from orange - medium risk - to yellow - low risk.
The Ministry of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands has activated health risk notices between July 9 and 11 in different municipalities of Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, and La Palma
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