Great Britain is preparing for its third heatwave of the summer, with the Met Office predicting temperatures could reach 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) this week. High pressure is expected to dominate southern England from Monday, bringing several days of hot and sunny weather.
Temperatures are forecast to exceed 30C in the South on Tuesday and Wednesday, with an "intense heat" of up to 35C anticipated across southern England by Thursday. London is projected to reach 33C on Monday, dropping slightly to 31C on Tuesday before returning to 33C on Wednesday and hitting 35C by Thursday. Cambridge is expected to see 34C on Thursday, while Birmingham could reach 33C and Manchester 29C on the same day. By Friday, a "refreshing breeze" is anticipated along the eastern coast, with temperatures beginning to decrease into the low thirties and high twenties across the country.
This anticipated heatwave follows record-breaking temperatures recorded in June, when 37.7C was registered in Lingwood, Norfolk, and a previous heatwave in May saw a peak of 35.1C in Kew, London.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow heat health alerts for several regions, including the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East England, and South West England, effective from Saturday, July 4, to Saturday, July 11. These alerts highlight an increased risk to health, particularly for vulnerable individuals.
In contrast to the heat in England, Scotland is expected to experience heavy rainfall. The Met Office has issued two yellow weather warnings for rain in the Highlands, anticipating "persistent and heavy" downpours on Sunday and Monday as weather fronts interact with the high-pressure system. These showers are expected to be heavy initially before gradually easing. Brighter conditions are predicted for northern Scotland by Wednesday.
The heatwave arrives amidst a series of drowning incidents reported across the UK in recent months as people sought relief in open water. On Saturday, emergency services recovered the body of a man from Watermead Country Park in Leicestershire. June saw a total of six reported drowning deaths, including a 55-year-old woman in Sandwell Valley Country Park, a 22-year-old man in the River Severn, a 15-year-old boy at Testwood Lakes, a 69-year-old man in Clacton-on-Sea, a 50-year-old man at Aberavon beach, and a 13-year-old boy in a lake in Syston, Leicestershire. Investigations into these incidents are ongoing.