Weather forecasters say all of the UK will experience this particularly hot air – but it will be warmest across England and Wales, especially across Southeast England
Pulses of hot air will surge up through Europe – where temperatures have hit 35C – and extend the UK’s glorious heatwave.
Temperatures exceeded 28C in the UK on Monday – the hottest day of the year so far – but forecasters say it’ll only get warmer this week, as a scorching plume of high pressure moves north from Europe. The mercury is likely to reach 35C in Madrid today and 32C in Paris on Wednesday due to the continent’s searing heatwave, which led to the deaths of two pensioners in Cyprus earlier this month.
Temperatures might not peak at these levels in the UK this week, though forecasters believe 30C is likely today and on Wednesday in many areas, including most of Southeast England and parts of East of England. Jo Farrow, a Netweather forecaster, said: “Pulses of hot air will surge up through Europe. In Spain, Madrid should reach 35C on Tuesday. Paris 32C by Wednesday with Scandinavia seeing warm air too, Stockholm is forecast to reach 28C in the next few days.
“All of the UK will experience this warm air but England and Wales will hold onto the heat as Northern Ireland and Scotland see fresher Atlantic influences edge in. Hull reached 25.7C on Sunday. Suffolk, Derbyshire, Herefordshire and north London also passed 25C. Heathrow reached 26.1C on Friday 21st June. Summer is finally with us.”
The UK is amid a four-day heat health alert, the start of which – Monday – saw the hottest day of the year so far as Wisley, Surrey, experienced a glorious 28.3C. Dr Chris England, a meteorologist with Sky News, told the channel: “We’ve had the highest temperature of the year so far, with 28.3C recorded at Wisley today, and it looks likely to turn even hotter, with 30C likely tomorrow, and 31C possible on Wednesday. That looks like the last of the generally hot days in the current spell, as a cold front moving south on Thursday will bring the cooler air to most parts.”
Thursday will therefore see a drop in temperatures – to as low as 15C in west Wales and 16C in parts of Cumbria – and showers are expected across northern England on Friday. It has been a dry end to June so far – little rain fell on Sunday in particular – with just minor drizzle creeping across Lancashire.
The rise in temperatures has, however, increased both UV levels and the pollen count across the UK. The pollen forecast is “very high” today and on Wednesday for most regions, the Met Office says. All of England and Wales is subject to this status today, as are Northern Ireland, Dumfries, Galloway, Lothian and Borders, Strathclyde, Central, Tayside and Fife. Both gras and nettle pollen are common this time of the year.