With temperatures forecast to reach 33C (91F) today and a one in three possibility that the nation will have its warmest day on record this week, Britons will experience the hottest day of the year thus far.
The heatwave is expected to linger until at least the weekend, when temperatures may reach 35C, sending the mercury soaring today afternoon in central, southern, and eastern England (95F).
The highest temperature ever recorded in the UK was 38.7C (101.6F) at Cambridge on July 15, 2019, whereas the warmest day of 2022 thus far was June 17 in Santon Downham, Norfolk.
This week, parts of the UK will be hotter than popular beach locations like Hawaii, Jamaica, the Maldives, and the Bahamas. Highs of 33C (91F) are predicted for today and tomorrow, and 29C (84F) is predicted for Wednesday.
This Thursday, it will be 28°C (82°F), Friday, 27°C (81°F), and Saturday, 31°C (88°F).
With the current forecast calling for highs of 36C (97F) in London, the Met Office stated there is a 30% possibility that the UK would experience its warmest day ever on Sunday.
However, this might change in the coming days.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a Level Three heat-health alert this morning, encouraging Britons to stay inside during the day, drink more fluids, and take extra care of young children.
Professor Mike Tipton, an authority on extreme environments at Portsmouth University, cautioned about the health problems that might result from high temperatures and estimated that the heatwave could cause an additional 2,000 fatalities in Britain.
This morning, he told on BBC Radio 4’s Today program: “You get an increased risk of blood clotting and cardiac issues because of the additional pressure heat puts on the body.
“Between 1,000 and 2,000 additional deaths from heat-related causes are expected, with the elderly making up the majority of these cases.
The forecast comes on the heels of a scorching weekend that saw Britain experience highs of 30.1C (86.2F) yesterday, 27.5C (81.5F), and 29.3C (84.7F) on Friday, all of which were recorded in London.
Greg Dewhurst, a meteorologist at the Met Office, stated: “High pressure will predominate, with plenty of sunshine, especially in England and Wales.
“It will occasionally be misty in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with thick clouds rolling in from the northwest and possibly bringing some rain.
However, for the majority of us, it will be a dry and bright day, with morning highs well into the 20s and even reaching 33C in central, southern, and eastern England.
So it’s highly likely that tomorrow will be the warmest day of the year thus far, and it will undoubtedly match or even surpass the previous record.
Many people might have a difficult night because it will also be very warm tonight into Tuesday, staying in the low 20s in cities.
Tuesday will likely have a few showers across the northern part of the UK and slightly cooler temperatures of 19C to 25C, according to Mr. Dewhurst.
Highs in the south will range from 27 to 33 degrees Celsius as it will continue to be scorching.
There will be a combination of sunny spells on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, but there is also a chance of showers in the north. 20 to 23 degrees Celsius in the north and 24 to 28 degrees Celsius in the south.
The weekend looks to be mostly bright and dry, with a potential return to low to mid-30s Celsius.
Some even forecast that this weekend, the UK might soar to an astounding 43C (109F).
We’re in for a tremendous rollercoaster that may catch people off guard, Met Office forecaster Steven Keates told The Sun.
We may experience truly spectacular, record-breaking heat this weekend, and it will suddenly pick up speed as if someone turned on the throttle.
According to certain American weather models, East Anglia could experience temperatures of 43 degrees Celsius on Sunday, shattering the previous UK record.
Currently, the heat is dry and rather nice, but by the following weekend, the dew point will rise and the temperature will rise significantly.
The high humidity implies that nighttime temperature drops won’t be as swift.
Simon King, the presenter for BBC Forecast, also tweeted that “several of the weather computer models we use are still predicting temps in the mid-high 30s on Sunday and Monday.”
Still some distance away, but it has been too constant to ignore. There are two types of heat: “summer” and “severe heat.”
The UKHSA has issued a Level Three heat-health notice for this week for the South East, East, and London regions, emphasizing the potential health effects of the conditions. The alert is called “heatwave action.”
“Watch out for others, especially the elderly, young children, and infants, as well as those who have underlying medical concerns,” it instructs.
Remember that it could be colder outside than inside and draw the curtains in rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler.
“Drink plenty of water, avoid excessive alcohol, dress for the weather, and drive more slowly when it’s hot out.”
As it stands, the alerts went into effect at 9 a.m. this morning and will continue until 9 a.m. on Friday.
For the regions of the South West, East Midlands, West Midlands, North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber, a Level Two notice with the label “alert and preparedness” has been issued.
In particular for the very young, the very old, or those who have chronic diseases, hot weather can be deadly, according to this statement.
South West Water, which acknowledges that strain on supplies is growing, has asked customers to attempt to save five liters of water per day to preserve reservoir levels due to the intense heat expected this week.
There haven’t been any limits in the area since 1976, according to Lisa Gahan, the director in charge of water resources, and “if we are diligent we can have another year without any restrictions.”
‘We want everyone to enjoy the hot weather when it arrives, but we also want to check in on their vulnerable family, friends, and neighbors to make sure they are prepared for the hot conditions ahead,’ said Dr. Agostinho Sousa, head of severe events and health protection at the UKHSA.
“High temperatures are expected to last for a while, so make sure to heed our straightforward health recommendations to battle the heat, such covering windows exposed to direct sunlight and checking that refrigerators, freezers, and fans are in good working order.”
Sam Hughes, National Water Safety Partner at the RNLI, also warned Britons to exercise caution when cooling down near the coast.
If you’re heading to the beach, we strongly advise that you swim between the red and yellow flags at a lifeguarded beach.
“Float to Live: lean back and utilize your arms and legs to keep afloat if you find yourself in peril in the water.” Control your breathing before making a rescue call or swimming to safety. Call the Coastguard at 999 or 112 in case of a coastal emergency.