Three "Spanish swelter" heatwaves are racing towards Britain, with forecasters predicting temperatures could hit 40C in July, potentially breaking the UK record of 40.3C. The mercury will ease to 25C to 27C this week during Wimbledon, before a fresh six-day heatwave arrives next week, pushing highs to 33C.
Record-Breaking Heat Expected
According to the Met Office, temperatures ahead are expected to be above normal, with an increased chance of hot periods developing. A second sizzle later in July is poised to challenge the 40.3C UK temperature record due to a blast of hot Spanish air. Brian Gaze, a forecaster at The Weather Outlook, said: "Another heatwave is expected next week, with a further hot period in the second half of July, and again in August. Highs into the mid to high 30s are expected, and the chance of 40C has never been higher than in the coming weeks, especially from the second half of July."
Temperature Projections for July
The GFS model shows possible temperature maximums of 41C in western England on July 11, while swathes of the country from Yorkshire down to London could rise as high as 41C. Starting on July 8, temperatures could rise as high as 35C in the south-east, with almost all of central and southern England hitting 30C or more. Highs of 33C are expected as far north as Yorkshire. On July 10, staggering highs of 40C are projected for western and southern England, with the mercury peaking at 37C to 39C widely across central and southern England.
Previous Records and Outlook
This comes after the record for the hottest June day was smashed, with Santon Downham, Suffolk, reaching 37.3C on Friday. The Met Office's three-month outlook warned: "There is an increased chance of heatwaves." The forecaster added that it is eight times more likely that a much hotter than normal summer is ahead, compared to much cooler than average. BBC Weather forecasts highs of around 30C all of next week, with more muggy nights expected. Another heatwave is expected in August in time for the school holidays.
