Tuesday is on track to be the hottest day of the year in the UK so far, as a heatwave sweeps across large parts of the country.
South-east England could see temperatures soar to 32C (90F), according to forecasts.
The Met Office anticipates that many areas in England and Wales will likely meet the criteria for a heatwave.
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However, the scorching temperatures might be short-lived. A yellow alert for thunderstorms has been issued by the Met Office for much of England and Wales later in the week.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued a Yellow Heat Health Alert for all regions of England except the North East and North West.
This alert is the second tier out of four and suggests that while most people won’t be significantly affected, the heat could pose risks to the elderly and vulnerable populations.
The UKHSA warns that the heatwave may lead to an increase in mortality, particularly among those aged 65 and over or those with existing health conditions. There is also an expected rise in demand for remote healthcare services, and temperatures in hospitals and care homes may become uncomfortably high for clinical assessments.
Many parts of the UK will experience temperatures four to five degrees above the average for this time of year.
The Met Office highlighted the temperature disparity on Monday, with Charlwood in Surrey reaching 29.6C while Sennybridge in Wales recorded a chilly 4.9C.
The previous hottest day of the year was 19 July, when St James’s Park in central London hit 31.9C. The Met Office defines a heatwave as three consecutive days with maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave threshold, which is likely to be met in several locations on Tuesday. In London, this threshold is 28C, while in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and most of northern and western England, it is 25C. If Scotland doesn’t reach 25C on Tuesday, it will be the first July since 2010 without such temperatures.
The heat will linger into the night, making for an uncomfortable sleep with temperatures remaining above 20C in many urban areas. Wednesday is expected to be another hot day, with temperatures possibly reaching 31C to 32C in central southern England and parts of the Midlands, while the south-east may see temperatures around 29C.
The dry spell is expected to end on Thursday with the onset of heavy rain and thunderstorms, for which the Met Office has issued a yellow warning. This warning, effective from 12:00 to 23:59 BST on Thursday, covers southern England, the Midlands, parts of Wales, and much of northern England, predicting “lightning, hail and gusty winds” that could cause disruption.
Warmer weather is set to return by Friday, though temperatures will fall below the heatwave threshold, remaining around 20C in many areas, with some rain showers. The rest of the month is forecasted to bring breezy conditions to the northwest and drier, brighter weather to the southeast, with a more settled period expected towards mid-August.
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