Will there be another heatwave this week? Latest Met Office weather forecast with UK temperatures set to rise

TEMPERATURES are set to rise again with the Met Office forecasting the fifth heatwave of the year this week. It comes after a hot and dry July, which has left more than half of England and all of Wales facing official drought conditions. The year’s fifth heatwave is on its way, according to the Met Office Credit: Alamy Temperatures could reach highs of 36C this week Credit: Met Office What is a heatwave? The Met Office defines an official heatwave as when temperatures in a certain area meet or exceed a specific threshold for three consecutive days. Because the climate varies across the UK, these are divided by counties and regions. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! 25C: Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, northern England, and parts of the South West. 26C to 27C: Central, eastern, and southern counties. 28C: Greater London and surrounding Home Counties. If temperatures reach or exceed these daily limits for three full days in a row, an official heatwave is declared for that area. Will there be a heatwave this week? According to the Met Office, another heatwave is very likely this week, with temperatures predicted to reach 35C in parts of East Anglia and south-east England by Thursday. The forecasting service says that following a “brief dip” in temperatures on Monday, high pressure will move across the UK and it will get hotter throughout the week. Monday’s “dip” will still bring very warm temperatures, with highs of 27C in London – just one degree lower than the heatwave threshold in the capital. However, conditions are fresher further north, with showers possible in the north-east of Scotland. Most read in The Sun Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Mike Silverstone said: “After a brief dip on Monday, high pressure will move across the UK before settling to the east, allowing a southerly flow to develop. “A fairly widespread heatwave is likely across large parts of England and Wales, with hot conditions developing in places. “The heat is expected to peak for much of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland on Wednesday, with up to 34C possible in parts of central and southern England and southeast Wales. “East Anglia and south-east England, however, could see temperatures even higher on Thursday. “Humidity levels are also expected to increase through the week, which may make conditions feel more uncomfortable, particularly overnight.” The UK Health Security Agency has already issued yellow heat health alerts for most of England until at least 9pm on Tuesday — but they are highly likely to be extended. What is the long-range Met Office forecast? The Met Office’s long-range outlook predicts a north-south divide in the weeks to come – and the potential for more heatwaves. Here is the full forecast: Friday, August 14 – Sunday, August 23 “Something of a north to south split to start the period. Some rain or showers are likely in the north whilst it will be predominantly dry, sunny and hot in the south. “The heat in the south will likely ease into next weekend but probably remain a little above average. “Further into August, there are signs that low pressure systems with spells or rain or thundery interludes will interrupt the more settled conditions at times, but rainfall amounts will probably be variable, with some areas continuing to see relatively little. “Temperatures are likely to remain above average, with a chance of occasional returns of the hot conditions seen earlier in the period.” Monday, August 24 – Monday, September 7 “The broad theme of high pressure remaining in place at least close to the UK seems most probable, but with occasional more unsettled or changeable interludes. “These interludes will either be the result of Atlantic frontal systems moving east or thundery plumes possibly drifting north from the continent. “The broadly settled conditions mean that rainfall amounts overall are more likely to be below normal than above. “Temperatures will probably be above average and some spells of hot weather and heatwaves are possible, especially in the south.” Comment now