The UK’s third heatwave of the year is expected to peak early today with temperatures soaring to a possible high of 34C.
Scotland has already recorded its warmest day of the year so far with a high of 30C, where fire crews spent a second day tackling a wildfire in Perth as extreme fire warnings covered much of the country.
The hottest temperatures are expected in the Midlands and south Wales – where heat damage closed a railway line, affecting thousands of fans travelling to a Stereophonics concert in Cardiff, according to BBC News.
Further north, a series of running events ranging from 10K to an ultra marathon taking place in Eryri – also known as Snowdonia – were called off amid the ‘extreme heat’.
Meanwhile, fans at Wimbledon’s Centre Court could face record temperatures in south-west London, where the heat reached a sweltering 32C on Friday.
It could be close to the hottest women’s finals day at the tennis championship, surpassing 1976’s record 31.2C, which has already faced some of the hottest temperatures in its 148-year history this year.
A hosepipe ban remains in place for seven million people in Yorkshire, Kent and Sussex, while amber heat health alerts cover southern England, the Midlands, and East Anglia – and will remain this morning.
This means the weather conditions could affect the whole population and the NHS, with travel disruption likely.
Less severe yellow warnings remain in place for northern England – meaning the warm weather could affect those who are particularly vulnerable, such as the elderly and those with existing health conditions.
Temperatures are expected to be widely in the high 20s to low 30s in England and Wales, while the mercury could rise to 33C or 34C in south Wales.
Northern Ireland could see highs of 29.5C, which would also make it the warmest day of the year there.
Eastern parts of England will see slightly cooler temperatures thanks to an easterly breeze, but most areas will still meet heatwave thresholds.
Even places such as Scotland’s Western Isles could see unusually high temperatures due to the widespread nature of the heatwave.
The 24C forecast in Stornoway may not seem high compared to the heat elsewhere – but this would be only the fourth time in 10 years the town had been so hot.
Amber heat health alerts remain in place for parts of England – where millions face a hosepipe ban – while wildfire warnings have been issued in Northern Ireland.
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