BRITAIN is set for glorious 36C highs next week as the UK gears up for its fifth heatwave of the year.
The says temperatures will rise through the weekend as the hot spell builds across England and Wales, with yellow heat alerts in force.
Tourists use umbrellas to shelter from the sun as people punt on the River Cam in Cambridge Credit: EPA
Families and holidaymakers flock to the picturesque seaside resort of Lyme Regis to enjoy the hot sunshine Credit: Alamy
Forecasters add that across southern and south-east on Sunday.
The latest spell will be the fifth – an extended period of unusually hot weather for the time of year – to hit the country this year.
The hottest is expected on Thursday, when parts of East Anglia and the South East could hit a scorching 36C.
The Met Office says temperatures could reach around 30C across parts of England and on Tuesday.
A stunning sunrise in Glastonbury, Somerset, this week Credit: SWNS
People enjoying the sunshine at Brighton beach Credit: PA
That could rise to between 32C and 34C on Wednesday before temperatures peak on Thursday.
And the sizzling spell could smash a 30-year record for the number of days Britain has reached 30C – temperatures have already reached 30C somewhere in the on 33 days this year.
The record stands at 34 days, set in 1995, and forecasters expect it to be broken next week.
Deputy chief forecaster Mike Silverstone said: “Temperatures will climb through the weekend and, more significantly, through much of next week.
“After a brief dip on Monday, high pressure will move across the before settling to the east, allowing a southerly flow to develop.
“A fairly widespread heatwave is likely across large parts of England and Wales, with hot conditions developing in places.
“The heat is expected to peak for much of England, Wales, and on Wednesday, with up to 34C possible in parts of central and southern England and south-east Wales.
“East Anglia and south-east England, however, could see temperatures even higher on Thursday.
Park Run members brace the heat in Clapham Common Park Credit: PA
A sunbather on her paddle board attaches anchors to a marker buoy in Dover Harbour Credit: Gary Stone
“Humidity levels are also expected to increase through the week, which may make conditions feel more uncomfortable, particularly overnight.”
Yellow heat alerts have been issued for most of England until Tuesday.
They warn of possible impacts on health and social care services, as well as an increased risk to life for vulnerable people.
The alerts are likely to be updated by the UK Health Security Agency in the coming days as the heatwave develops.
Temperatures will continue to rise as the weekend progresses, with the warmest weather expected in the south.
The UK has already seen some exceptionally hot weather this .
The year’s highest temperature so far was 38C, recorded at Lingwood in Norfolk on June 28.
The Met Office says there will be a clear split in the weather this weekend.
and are likely to see some heavy rain, while England and Wales should stay largely dry and sunny.
But the long run of hot and dry weather has also left parts of Britain badly short of rain.
July was the driest month for England and Wales since records began in 1836, according to provisional Met Office figures.
Nineteen counties across England recorded just 1mm of rain or less throughout the whole of July.
Reservoir levels have also fallen, with storage in England now at 69 per cent.
That is down from 72 per cent a week earlier and almost 12 percentage points below the average for this time of year.
Five reservoirs have been classed as having exceptionally low levels.
They include Blagdon in , Hanningfield in Essex and Wimbleball in Somerset.
The dry weather has also increased the risk of wildfires, with conditions expected to be particularly severe across much of eastern and south-eastern England on Sunday.
Several major fires have already broken out across the UK in recent weeks, including blazes at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk and Headon Warren on the .
The is urging people to sign a petition calling on the Government to make tackling climate change a national mission.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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