Scorching two-week heatwave to hit UK as temperatures 'set to soar to 40C'

26 June 2023, 10:53 | Updated: 28 June 2023, 14:52

Brits are being told to prepare for a heatwave next month - and it could last as long as two weeks.

Sizzling temperatures are forecast to take a step up in July, with a heatwave predicted to last 14 days.

The Weather Company has predicted more scorching heat is expected in early and late July. They say it could beat last year’s record-breaking 40.3C temperature.

The extreme temperatures come as hot continental air makes its way to the UK.

Sunday became the hottest day of the year so far, reaching 32.2C at Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

The Met Office said a continuation of these hot weather trends was not 'out of the question'.

Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey said northern areas would be likely to see the drier weather while the south sees greater risk of showers and thunderstorms.

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"Towards the middle to the end of July there is an increasing chance that high pressure may become established," he told the Mirror.

"On balance northern areas are more likely to see drier conditions with southern areas seeing greater risk of showers and thunderstorms.

"We can say there is a greater than normal chance of heat waves for the whole period of the middle to the end of July.

"Because of the change in climate our extreme temperatures are continuously being pushed.

"There is an increasing chance these extremes could get pushed further.

"We got 40C last year and before that happened no one thought there was an outside chance.

"There’s also a possibility we do continue to see those trends."

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There have been warnings that the UK will be hit with five more heatwaves this summer.

Forecasters at the Weather Company said Britain faces further days of unusually hot temperatures in early and late July, two more at the start of August and another in September.

It has been pointed out that climate change is contributing to Britain's increasingly hot summers.

The Met Office website states: “It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land.”

It adds that heatwaves and cold snaps in Britain are definitely affected by man-made climate change, but that the links to heavy rain, dry spells and wind storms remain "inconclusive".