The latest WXCharts maps show temperatures will gradually climb across southern and eastern England, with many areas forecast to reach at least 30C in the coming days
These striking weather maps show the UK is soon set to swelter in temperatures of up to 36C.
Forecasters say temperatures will slowly climb and, by Wednesday August 12, much of the country will be sweltering in the heat again. The warmest counties will be those in the south and east of England, including Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.
The latest WXCharts maps are, in most, a bright red, which indicates temperatures will be hot. Meteorologists at Metdesk, which issued the maps, say the mercury could peak at 36C on or around Wednesday August 12.
But, during this period, temperatures are widely expected to exceed 30C, including across parts of the Midlands and northern England. Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to remain noticeably cooler, with many areas forecast to stay in the low to mid-20s.
While it will be warmest in the east, it will still be dry and sunny across Wales — albeit cooler here too. Forecasters believe it will be 26C or 27C in and around Swansea, for instance.
As the Express reports, it was warm on Monday with a 33.5C high recorded by the Met Office in Wisley, Surrey. However, rain is expected on Wednesday and Thuirsday, heaviest across Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland.
A yellow weather warning is in place for thunderstorms across Angus, Perth and Kinross, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray and Highland. The Met Office says: “Slow-moving heavy showers and thunderstorms may cause some disruption.”
List of counties set for 35C+ highs next week
According to the WXCharts, temperatures of 35C or above could soon be reached across parts of:
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Essex
- Hampshire
- Hertfordshire
- Northamptonshire
- Oxfordshire
- Surrey
- Sussex
- Suffolk
The heatwaves have, though, led to warnings that shoppers face higher food prices and possible shortages because of the prolonged drought.
Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers’ Union, called on ministers to help support the building of reservoirs on farms as part of wider measures. He said: “Water security is food security and food security is part of our national security.”
Parched conditions have caused havoc for farmers. Many arable farmers have been forced to bring forward their wheat harvest by several weeks – in some cases the earliest for at least 20 years – because of the extreme weather, with an impact on yields – the amount produced.