Britons are in for scorching weather on Wednesday as temperatures are expected to soar to 35C. Meteorologists predict Wednesday to be the hottest day of the week, prompting the issuance of amber heat health alerts for the East Midlands, East of England, London, and Southeast of England. Additionally, yellow heat health alerts have been implemented for the South West, West Midlands, and Yorkshire & The Humber regions.
According to the Met Office, the hot weather will persist throughout the week, potentially meeting the heatwave threshold across most parts of the UK. Counties like Berkshire, Surrey, and Buckinghamshire are anticipated to experience the highest temperatures on Wednesday.
While Monday saw temperatures peak at 28C in Heathrow Airport, Wednesday is expected to bring even hotter conditions, especially in the capital. The rising temperatures raise concerns about an increased risk of wildfires, a prevalent issue in the UK and Europe. In France, hundreds of thousands have been evacuated due to devastating wildfires, with President Emmanuel Macron describing the situation as the country’s most challenging since World War II.
In Scotland, firefighters have been battling a fierce wildfire in the Cairngorms for over 10 days, leading to evacuations. Unlike parts of England and Wales, Scotland is not forecasted to experience extreme heat this week, with southern regions and most of Northern Ireland likely to see showers on Wednesday.
Temperatures are expected to ease by Thursday across most of the UK, except for the Southeast of England where temperatures could still reach 29C, meeting the heatwave criteria. Deputy Chief Forecaster Gregory Wolverson from the Met Office stated that while the heatwave will be short-lived, temperatures will rise rapidly, particularly in the southeast.
By Wednesday, some areas may see temperatures in the mid-30Cs, potentially meeting the official heatwave criteria by Thursday in parts of the southeast. Cooler and more unsettled conditions are expected in other regions, with a mix of sunshine and showers. Northern areas might experience heavier showers with a slight risk of isolated thunderstorms throughout the week.