The Met Office has issued a rare red heat warning for parts of the UK as temperatures are expected to reach 40C on Thursday, with the heatwave forecast to end as temperatures drop by 15C from Sunday
The Met Office has revealed when the UK heatwave is expected to come to an end, with temperatures set to plummet by as much as 15C.
A red heat warning remains in place, covering an area stretching from London through to Somerset and Swansea, and up to Birmingham, running until midnight tonight (Thursday).
An amber warning has also been extended through to 9pm on Saturday, as the mercury is anticipated to keep climbing beyond previous record-breaking peaks.
The forecaster cautioned that further amendments could still be made to these alerts as the situation unfolds.
The Met Office said: “As the forecast continues to evolve, we may need to issue further updates once more detail becomes clear.”
Come Thursday, temperatures are predicted to hit 40C in certain parts of the country, with widespread readings of above 37C anticipated.
The heatwave has already triggered widespread chaos in schools and across transport networks, with closures and reduced timetables still in effect.
Overnight temperatures are also remarkably elevated, with urban areas not expected to dip below 20C.
Wednesday’s peak smashes the previous record high for June of 35.6C, set in both 1976 and 1957, according to the forecaster.
The weather channel noted that the intense heat will push northwards on Thursday, “with an even hotter day ahead for some with amber and red extreme heat warnings in force”.
The heatwave is being driven by a “heat-dome” that has settled over western Europe, bringing extreme conditions right across the continent. The sweltering heat is set to persist in certain parts of the country well into the weekend.
However, relief is on the horizon, as the muggy days and nights are expected to subside over the weekend, with cooler conditions predicted from Sunday onwards.
Shedding light on when the mercury will start to fall, the Met Office said: “Thursday will see the peak of the heat for many, though those further east will retain extreme heat on Friday and Saturday and could continue to see further impacts, which has resulted in Amber warnings.
“The far southeast will retain the warmth the longest, though there should be a climb-down in figures by Saturday, with peaks around 32C likely.
“Next week is likely to see a change to more of a westerly influence on the UK’s weather, with a return to more average temperatures for the time of year and a mixture of winds and rain, particularly for those in the North West.”
Come Sunday, temperatures could plummet by around 15C, with Cardiff forecast to reach just 20C and London expected to top out at 26C.
In the wake of the rare red warnings and health alerts, the drop in temperature is likely to be a welcome relief for millions across the country following the widespread disruption the heatwave has caused.