Finally! Heatwave’s on the way after that soggy start to July
SUMMER made a belated appearance yesterday, and the good news is the warm weather will turn into a heatwave.
Temperatures will rise past 30C tomorrow in the hottest spell of the year so far. But, true to form for 2024, it will only last for two or three days before the rain comes back with a vengeance.
Small mercies are likely to be welcomed though following a miserable start to July.
Temperatures will build today from yesterday’s warmth and are set to reach 32C (89.6F) in the South East tomorrow.
Further north and west tomorrow, Manchester is set to reach 28C (82F), while a relatively balmy 26C (79F) is expected in Cardiff and as far north as Newcastle upon Tyne.
The warm, sunny conditions are set to hold into Saturday in the South East, where highs should reach 29C (84F). But thundery showers and potentially heavy downpours are expected elsewhere, cooling temperatures down. More temperate conditions – still with temperatures of up to 24C (75F) – are due to spread to all parts by Sunday and into next week.
Heat health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency from today onwards, due to the warm days and overnight temperatures which are unlikely to fall below 20C (68F) on Friday into Saturday in cities such as London.
The warmest day of the year so far was June 26, when 30.3C (86.5F) was recorded at Heathrow.
The Met Office said England recorded 97 per cent of its average July rainfall in the first half of the month between July 1 and July 15, while Wales recorded 65 per cent.