UK weather maps have turned volcanic red, indicating that 38 counties are forecast to experience temperatures greater than 30°C on July 11, according to WXCharts. The heat zone will cover the vast majority of central, southern, and eastern England, with some parts of Wales also affected.
Record June Heat Precedes July Forecast
This comes after Britain experienced a sweltering June heat wave that shattered previous temperature records. The Met Office recorded a provisional high of 37.7°C at Lingwood, Strumpshaw Hill on June 26, surpassing the previous June record of 35.6°C set at Southampton in June 1976. Wales also saw exceptional heat, with 35.9°C recorded at Cardiff Bute Park on June 25, breaking the previous June record of 33.7°C set in 2000.
Experts said: "These temperatures highlight how intense the late June heat became, particularly across England and Wales, with values well into the mid-30s Celsius during the peak of the event."
Counties Expected to Exceed 30°C
WXCharts has published a list of 38 counties where temperatures are predicted to reach over 30°C on July 11:
England (31 counties): Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Bristol, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire (eastern edge), Derbyshire (central and southern areas), Essex (inland areas), Gloucestershire, Greater London, Hampshire (central and northern areas), Hertfordshire, Kent (inland areas), Leicestershire, Norfolk (inland areas), Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Rutland, Shropshire (eastern half), Somerset (northeastern areas), South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Suffolk (inland areas), Surrey, Warwickshire, West Midlands, West Yorkshire (southern edge), West Sussex (northern fringe), Wiltshire, Worcestershire.
Wales (7 counties): Powys, Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport.
Met Office Long-Range Outlook
The Met Office's long-range outlook for July 7 to 16 states: "High pressure will dominate across England and Wales into next week, likely extending its influence into the northern UK with time. This will bring dry and warm conditions with plenty of sunshine for most. Scotland and Northern Ireland will probably see more cloud at first, with periods of rain at times. Through next week though the high pressure may extend northwards to bring periods of drier and warmer weather to Scotland and Northern Ireland. Winds will be light to moderate for most, though stronger around northern hills and coasts near low pressure systems. Temperatures becoming widely warm, perhaps locally hot in parts of the southeast, although not as hot nor humid as seen in the past week."
