Parts of the UK faced rain weather warnings this week, but by the weekend a mini-heatwave could arrive in the South East. Meanwhile in Europe, a bloc of hot air from Africa is baking parts of the continent, leading to heat warnings and wildfires.
Temperatures are set to hit 30C (86F) by the weekend in the UK, while southern Europe suffers a “hellishly hot” heatwave.
After a wet start to July with well-above average rainfall figures, parts of the country can expect a mini-heatwave ahead.
However, on the continent, a bloc of African air has brought “hellishly hot” conditions to parts of Europe and the Balkans.
A wet July set to see 30C
The Met Office previously issued yellow weather warnings for rain for parts of the UK, with some places receiving as much as 15-20mm in as little as an hour.
This comes off the back of well-above average rainfall figures during the first half of the month.
The whole of England has already seen 97% of its average July rainfall, with Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland seeing 65%, 49% and 47% respectively.
However, the weather is set to improve, if only briefly, with a mini-heatwave on the way this weekend.
Temperatures around southern parts of the UK could peak around 30C on Friday and Saturday.
But any heat won’t last long, with cooler conditions expected on Sunday.
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‘Hellishly hot’ heatwave burns across Europe and the Balkans
The Italian health ministry has placed 12 cities under its most severe heat warning.
Temperatures have swept over 40C (104F) – with the worst still to come.
Several cities have taken measures to look after the elderly as wildfires have raged in southern Italy and North Macedonia.
“It’s hellishly hot,” said Carmen Diaz, a tourist from Madrid who had travelled to Rome.
Cities from Trieste, in the north of Italy, to Rome have been placed under a red heat warning and Palermo, Sicily, was expected to join the list later this week.
In Greece, air conditioned spaces have been made available to the public and certain forms of outdoor work, like manual labour, deliveries and construction, have also been banned at the hottest times of the day.
Temperatures were expected to hit 42C (107F) on Wednesday and Thursday across several countries and Spain’s national weather service said the Guadalquivir river basin could get as hot as 44C (111F).
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In Albania, where temperatures were expected to hit 42C, a 72-year-old man was found dead at his farm in Memaliaj, 125 miles (200km) south of the capital Tirana.
The cause of the death is believed to be related to the heat, according to local reports, but there has been no confirmation by authorities.