The Met Office has warned that the UK could be on track for a third heatwave in less than a month, following the hottest day of the year being recorded just a few days ago. On Tuesday, temperatures soared to 34.7C in St James’s Park, London, the highest recorded temperature in England so far this year, with areas in Essex and Kent also experiencing highs exceeding 33C. Last month was confirmed by the Met Office as the warmest June on record in England and the second warmest across the UK since official records began in 1884, based on provisional data.
Now, the Met Office has said that a third heatwave could arrive by mid-July, particularly affecting the South and East of England. Met Office Meteorologist Zoe Hutin explained that while it is still early to predict exact temperatures, the conditions are in place for another spell of sustained high heat.
Met Office meteorologist Zoe Hutin said: “Whilst it is difficult this far ahead to determine exactly how hot things could get next week and weekend, there is the potential that some parts of the country could reach heatwave criteria.”
Hutin said temperatures in the South East could climb into the high 20s on July 9, with the possibility of reaching the low 30s on July 10.
She explained that the hot spell is likely to persist into the weekend, driven by a high-pressure system moving in from the West and extending across the South, drawing warm air from the Atlantic and the Azores.
Hutin added: “Most likely it will be the south and east that see prolonged heat and thus could have another heatwave, but it is too soon to say exactly how high temperatures could get.”
The meteorologist said temperatures this weekend and into the start of next week are expected to dip compared to recent days, with “cloudier skies prevailing and bringing spells of rain at times, especially for western areas”.
Forecasts show highs of around 25C in the South East on Saturday, 24C on Sunday, and 23C on Monday.
She said: “It will be drier overall in the East, though some drizzly outbreaks are still possible on Saturday, with showers on Sunday.”
Heatwave criteria require temperatures to reach or exceed certain thresholds, including 28C in London and surrounding counties, and 25C in northern and western parts, for three consecutive days.
If these conditions are met, the UK will have endured three heatwaves in less than a month.