The Met Office has confirmed the exact date when a 31°C heatwave will return to the UK this July. London is expected to experience temperatures rising to 28°C on Saturday, 29°C on Sunday, and peaking at 31°C on Monday afternoon. In response, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a yellow heat health alert effective from midday on Saturday, July 4, until 5pm on Wednesday, July 8.
The short-term forecast from the Met Office predicts rain will clear south early on Saturday, leading to a sunny day with light winds and a pleasant afternoon. From Friday through Sunday, high pressure will build, bringing warm sunshine and light winds throughout, with a little more cloud cover expected on Saturday.
Met Office scientist Dr. Emily Carlisle highlighted the significance of this June’s climate, saying, “This month demonstrates how UK weather can combine unsettled conditions and record-breaking heat in the same period. The intense late June heatwave, accompanied by unusually warm nights, contributed to England’s warmest June on record for mean temperature, while the UK and Wales recorded their second warmest.”
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Reflecting on historical context, Dr. Carlisle added, “Fifty years after the 1976 heatwave, similar events are occurring in a warmer climate, resulting in higher temperatures and broader impacts than before.”
Thursday will start windy with a few showers but will turn dry later, with sunny spells developing in the afternoon. Looking ahead, Friday is expected to be dry and sunny, although hazy at times, with very warm conditions. Saturday will remain dry and very warm with morning sunshine, followed by patchy clouds and sunny intervals in the afternoon. Sunday will be cloudier but dry, with a mix of cloudy periods and hazy sunshine.
From July 6 onwards, high pressure is forecast to dominate across England and Wales, likely extending into northern UK regions, bringing dry, warm weather with plenty of sunshine. Scotland and Northern Ireland may experience more cloud and occasional rain initially, but warmer and drier conditions are expected to develop. Winds will generally be light to moderate, though stronger near northern hills and coasts. Temperatures will remain widely warm, with some areas in the southeast potentially experiencing locally hot conditions, though not as extreme or humid as recent weeks.