Hot and humid this week

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The Met Office is forecasting a period of hot and humid weather this week, preceded by heavy and thundery rain.

Several National Severe Weather warnings for thunderstorms and heavy rain are in place for Northern Ireland, England and parts of Scotland and Wales for Monday night, 24 June and Tuesday, 25 June. 

It will then turn more settled from Wednesday and increasingly hot and humid as temperatures rise into the high 20s Celsius and low 30s for many.

Heat Health Alerts are already widely in place in conjunction with Public Health England.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Dan Suri, said: “It’s going to get hot and humid for some from Wednesday, with the highest temperatures expected across southern and western parts of the UK.  Not everywhere will see the high temperatures, however, as an easterly breeze will keep North Sea coasts much cooler.

“By the time we get to Saturday, however, North Sea coasts will join much of the rest of eastern UK in seeing temperatures of 27 to 32 Celsius.”

Dan continued: “Heatwave thresholds will therefore be met across some parts of the UK later this week and into the weekend.”  Earlier this year the Met Office released an official heatwave definition.

The highest temperature on record for June is 35.6 Celsius recorded in London on 29 June 1957 and Southampton on 28 June 1976.  With temperatures potentially reaching into the mid-30s Celsius for parts of the UK later this week, there is a slight chance the current record could be broken.

Commenting on the humidity, Dan said: “It’ll feel very muggy for many this week, especially overnight as temperatures are likely to stay into the high teens and possibly low 20s Celsius in urban areas.”

Advice on how to reduce risks from hot weather can be obtained from the NHS.

Fresher air is expected to arrive from the west through the weekend and spread to all parts of the UK by Monday, bringing an end to the hot spell.

Temperatures are also rising across large parts of continental Europe this week, with temperatures into the mid-30s Celsius expected and in some places rising to high-30s and low-40s Celsius, especially across France and Spain towards the end of the week.