Met Office warns Storm Dexter to hit within HOURS but it's great news for heatwave
After a first half of the summer holidays marred by less-than-perfect weather, it seems summer is set to make a comeback in the days ahead. Despite Storm Floris bringing "unseasonably" strong winds to the UK earlier in the week, another storm is on its way, and this time it's expected to usher in a heatwave.
Tropical Storm Dexter is making its way across the Atlantic and is predicted to hit the northern parts of the UK by late Saturday. While Scotland may face unsettled conditions with wind and rain, England and Wales could see temperatures soar high enough for a heatwave to be declared.
According to the Met Office, the remnants of Tropical Storm Dexter will draw warm air from the southwest across the UK, potentially leading to scorching conditions. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has even issued a yellow heat health warning for a large part of the country starting Monday, August 11, as the hot weather front approaches. It comes as Brits are warned to avoid BBQs during next week's heatwave.
With the mercury set to rise above 30C in some central, southern, and eastern parts of England on Monday and Tuesday, and forecasts predicting 27C for Wales, the heat is certainly on.
Only some parts of England were included in the official heat warning, but locals across the UK can still expect a significant temperature hike, reports Wales Online.
Should the predictions hold true, Wales is also poised for a heatwave, with temperatures likely to hit at least 25C across three consecutive days.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Steven Keates, remarked: "We're confident that temperatures will increase markedly by the start of next week, reaching the low 30s Celsius in parts of England on Monday and perhaps the mid 30s in a few places on Tuesday.
"However, the length of this warm spell is still uncertain, and it is possible that high temperatures could persist further into next week, particularly in the south.
"Ex-Dexter sets the wheels in motion for an uptick in temperatures, but the weather patterns then maintaining any hot weather are rather more uncertain". Stay ahead with the biggest stories in Wales by subscribing to our daily newsletter here.
According to Met Office weather maps, from Monday to Wednesday, large swathes of Wales can expect temperatures around 25C.
Tuesday is shaping up to be the week's scorcher, with the mercury set to soar into the mid to high-twenties nationwide.
Cardiff and Newport are predicted to bask in highs of 27°C.
Though there'll be a slight dip in heat from Thursday, the warm spell is tipped to linger for much of the month.
The Met Office's extended forecast suggests high pressure will once again reign, bringing warm and muggy conditions to vast areas of the UK. As the month progresses, we're likely to see temperatures remain above average for the season.
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