Brits melt in heatwave: Temperatures could hit 34C this week with 'tropical nights', thunderstorms and yellow heat health alert
Beaches and parks are set to be packed as central and southern England get above 30C (86F) today because of a combination of high pressure and a southerly airflow.
But a Government yellow heat health alert was imposed and forecasters warned of a risk of isolated thunderstorms and infrequent outbreaks of rain during the hot spell.
An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three days in a row, with thresholds varying from 25C (77F) to 28C (82F) in different areas.
The Met Office forecast for London, which has a 28C threshold, said temperatures will hit at least that level daily until at least Sunday, with a 33C (92F) peak tomorrow.
Forecasters believe warm nights are also likely in the South East with a chance of a 'tropical night' tonight, where temperatures do not drop below 20C (68F) overnight.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued a yellow heat health alert from 12pm today until 6pm on Wednesday, covering all regions of England apart from the North.
Government officials have warned of 'significant impacts' across health and social care services due to the high temperatures - including the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions.
The London Fire Brigade warned people against using disposable barbecues and told them to properly dispose of cigarettes and take rubbish home if no bins are available.
Met Office senior meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said: 'Temperatures are going to rise over the coming days, particularly across England and Wales.
'But it is not going to be felt quite as much across parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland - it's not going to be widespread heat everywhere.
'And the reason for that is we've got high pressure to the south east of the UK at the moment and low pressure to the north west and west.
'But through Monday, we start importing some of that hot and humid air, and we're looking at highs of around 31C across central and southern England, with the rest of England and Wales getting towards the high 20s, and Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland in the low 20s.
'The heat may spark one or two heavy showers and thunderstorms across south-west England and Wales, but they'll be very isolated.
'And then Tuesday looks largely dry, with plenty of sunny spells - it could well be the peak of the heat.
'Temperatures are set to rise to about 33C across central and southern England, but again, this could spark off a thunderstorm by the afternoon and evening time.
'And some places will hit heatwave thresholds on Tuesday, while some places will hit it on Wednesday - it depends on the area.'
The high temperatures on consecutive days would mean the UK hitting its fourth heatwave of the summer.
'It allows the low pressure to the west to edge in a bit, so with a bit more cloud, temperatures may just be a bit lower, but we could still see it as high as the low 30s.
'On Thursday, temperatures are set to peak around 29C, again with a bit more cloud around and a few showers, before a drier Friday with sunny spells ahead of the weekend.'
Emergency services are already having to respond to the rising heat and ongoing dry conditions.
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said they had declared a major incident on Saturday as about 100 firefighters battled a fire in Holt Heath, near Wimborne, while crews have continued tackling a large blaze at Newton Heath, near Swanage, which has been burning since last Sunday.
Temperatures are not expected to beat the 35.8C (78.4F) at Faversham in Kent on July 1 during the last heatwave - the UK's hottest day in three years.
That beat the warmest day of 2024 which was 34.8C (94.6F) in Cambridge on August 12; and the 2023 peak which was 33.5C (92.3F) in Faversham on September 10.
The 2022 high of 40.3C (104.5F) on July 19 in Lincolnshire remains the UK's highest temperature on record.
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