Maps show where in the UK temperatures will soar to 30C this week
Temperatures in the UK are expected to reach over 30C on Friday - these maps show where and when.
With temperatures set to peak above 30C, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow heat health alerts.
The Met Office has said that temperatures of “around 30C are possible in the South East”, with current maps showing 31C on Friday afternoon. Figures in the mid to upper 20s are also “more likely in places” across England and Wales, as the recent rainy weather is replaced by heat and sunshine.
The Midlands is expected to experience highs of 27C and the east of England getting to 27C, according to Met Office maps.
Health alerts are now in place that cover East Midlands, East England, London and the South East from Thursday to Saturday. The UKHSA warns that expected hot weather may have minor impacts on the health and social care sector.
The warm spell is expected to last until Saturday, where top temperatures – again in London – are predicted to be around the 25C mark.
Read more: Why is the UK summer weather so bad and when will it improve? (Yahoo News UK)
According to the Met Office, the hot spell is the result of high pressure in the east drawing up warmer air from the continent.
By Sunday, a front system will push the warm air away again and temperatures will fall slightly to the low 20s.
It comes in marked contrast to the last few days, when almost all of England, Scotland and Wales was doused in heavy rain and thunderstorms.
"We are expecting temperatures to rise through the coming days," Met Office spokesperson Nicola Maxey told Yahoo News UK.
"By Friday, although temperatures will be around average for the North and North West, they will be locally very warm or even hot in the South East.
"There is a chance we could see temperatures reach the high 20s or even 30C in the London area for Friday and possibly Saturday, before milder air starts to push across the country once again.
"Nights will also be mild with temperatures staying in the high teens and even low 20s for parts of the South East."
Maxey said night-time temperatures could stay in the low 20s for parts of south-east England – officially classified as “tropical nights” if they do not drop below 20C.
The hot weather comes after data showed that parts of the country have already well-exceeded July’s average rainfall figures despite only being halfway through the month.
The Met Office said England had 97% of July’s average rainfall between July 1 and 15, Wales had 65%, Scotland 49% and Northern Ireland 47%.
London has had 154% of its July average already and Dorset 120%. Edinburgh has only had 40% and Dundee 33%.
The Met Office said conditions next week would be “changeable” rather than just rainy, with temperatures close to average.
Some warm nights are expected this week, especially on Friday night when a tropical night is possible in southeast England
This is when the temperature remains above the 20 °C mark 🌡️📈 pic.twitter.com/BRCuyY9Y0K— Met Office (@metoffice) July 17, 2024
What is a yellow heat health alert?
Yellow heat health alerts are usually issued during periods of heat which would be unlikely to impact most people.
However, more vulnerable people – including the elderly or those with multiple health conditions – are likely to struggle. This will be especially felt in the health and social care sector.
Yellow alerts may also be issued when a forecast is made but confidence in its reliability are low. They are nevertheless issued if there could be significant impacts if the worst-case scenario is realised.
Alerts will be upgraded as and when confidence about the prediction improves, which could result in an upgrade or downgrade of the warnings.
