Month-long heatwave on the way

Ice cream weather on the way

Forecasters say this weekend will be the hottest of the year so far, and could set us up for the best July for seven years.

The Met Office predict temperatures of 28C (82F) by Sunday and 30C (86F) by the middle of next week, with the possibility of over 30C as days get ‘warmer and warmer’ due to the cumulative effect of lasting sunshine.

The Met Office long-term forecast is for the high pressure to stay in place over the south of England for two weeks, making it stay ‘warm or very warm’.

Across the UK it will be ‘fine and settled’ with cloudier weather and the occasional shower over north-western parts.

The month-long forecast is more uncertain but predicts that the heatwave could last into August.

The last time Britain had such a prolonged period of glorious weather was in July 2006 – the hottest month since records began in 1914.

The UK record is 38.5C (101.3F), recorded in Faversham, Kent, on 10 August 2003.