The UK is bracing for its fifth heatwave of the year, with fresh heat health alerts are issued
Temperatures are set to soar once again, with a fifth heatwave on the horizon and a series of health warnings issued as the mercury looks likely to surge for a sweltering weekend.
Looking ahead to next week, conditions are forecast to intensify further, with 27 counties expected to bake in temperatures exceeding 30C, according to the latest weather maps from WXCharts.com.
The latest weather maps from WXCharts.com paint a picture of a fierce wall of heat set to scorch vast swathes of England, with temperatures potentially reaching as high as 36C.
The data suggests that on August 13, the most punishing conditions will affect more than two dozen counties, with the most intense heat radiating from the South and South East through the Midlands and into eastern England. Elsewhere across the country, temperatures will remain considerably cooler.
Scotland and Northern Ireland are largely sitting in the teens and low 20s, while western parts of Wales and northern England are escaping the most brutal of the furnace-like heat.
Fresh heat alerts are due to take effect as the UK prepares for its fifth heatwave of the year, with scorching highs of 36C anticipated. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow heat health alerts for the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber and London.
The yellow heat health alerts are in place from 9am on Saturday until 9pm on Tuesday and caution that the elevated temperatures are likely to impact the health and wellbeing of the public.
This comes after the Met Office warned that heatwave conditions are set to make a comeback across multiple regions of the UK next week, with temperatures climbing through the weekend before rising more sharply towards the middle of next week.
Meteorologists predict that temperatures could reach 36°C in parts of East Anglia and south-east England by Thursday, reports the Express.
Deputy chief forecaster Mike Silverstone said: “Temperatures will climb through the weekend and, more significantly, through much of next week. After a brief dip on Monday, high pressure will move across the UK before settling to the east, allowing a southerly flow to develop.
“A fairly widespread heatwave is likely across large parts of England and Wales, with hot conditions developing in places.
“The heat is expected to peak for much of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland on Wednesday, with up to 34°C possible in parts of central and southern England and southeast Wales.
“East Anglia and south-east England, however, could see temperatures even higher on Thursday.
“Humidity levels are also expected to increase through the week, which may make conditions feel more uncomfortable, particularly overnight.”
The agency’s long-range forecast for 12th to 21st August stated: “A mixed start is likely to this period, with some rain or showers in the north and quite breezy conditions while in the south it will be mostly dry, sunny and hot, even very hot in some places.
“Southern parts are likely to turn cooler and fresher next weekend though.”
Counties over 30C
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Devon
- Dorset
- East Sussex
- Essex
- Gloucestershire
- Greater London
- Hampshire
- Hertfordshire
- Kent
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Norfolk
- Northamptonshire
- Oxfordshire
- Rutland
- Somerset
- Suffolk
- Surrey
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands
- West Sussex
- Wiltshire
- Worcestershire
