Heat health alerts and a hosepipe ban have been issued as the third heatwave of the summer is set to hit some parts of the country by the weekend.
Temperatures are expected to soar up to 32C by Friday – hotter than in Lisbon, Istanbul and Rome.
Last week saw highs of up to 34.7C in London, as Wimbledon players relied on ice packs to cope with the baking sun – while the 35.8C recorded in Faversham, Kent, on 1 July is the hottest of the year so far.
The latest hot spell is not expected to be quite as warm, but is forecast to last longer and cover a broader area.
It will be the third heatwave in four weeks after two weekends of hot conditions for much of the country in the final weeks of June, which was the hottest on record across England.
The Met Office is predicting many areas could see temperatures 10C above the seasonal average.
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Yellow heat health alerts – which indicate people with pre-existing health conditions, and those aged over 65, could be at higher risk – have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency covering all of England from 11am on Thursday until 10am on 15 July.
Yorkshire Water has issued a hosepipe ban – the country’s first of the year – which comes into force on Friday, with breaches punishable by fines of up to £1,000.
Tennis fans attending the Wimbledon finals on Saturday and Sunday are being advised to wear plenty of sun cream and stay hydrated, with plus-30C temperatures, very high UV and pollen levels expected in the capital.
To be considered a heatwave, the temperature needs to reach or surpass 28C in the south and 25C in the north for at least three consecutive days.
The Met Office predicts temperatures of up to 31C on Thursday and 32C on Friday in the south of England and Wales.
In the north of England, Thursday could see highs of 27C, edging up to 29C on Friday and 30C on Saturday with isolated highs of 31C.
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Scotland is also due to hit the heatwave threshold, with temperatures on the east coast forecast to reach 31C on Saturday, potentially breaking local records, according to Met Office meteorologist Liam Eslick.
The temperature will slowly start to decrease by Monday or Tuesday.
“It is going to be a hot one with little cloud around,” Mr Eslick said.
“UV levels are going to be pretty high so anyone going to the [Wimbledon] finals should wear plenty of sun cream and stay hydrated as there is not going to be too much of a breeze to cool down.
“Pollen levels are also going to be high, so any hay fever sufferers should take medication to reduce that risk.”
He said the weekend would be very sunny and dry, with the wildfire risk classed as moderate, and advised those planning barbecues to make sure they extinguish them properly as the ground will be dry.
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Cold water shock warning
RNLI water safety manager Ross Macleod warned those heading to the coast the seas can still be cold enough to trigger cold water shock, with waves and rip currents strong enough to overpower even the most experienced swimmers.
He urged anyone in difficulty not to panic and advised: “Tilt your head back, with your ears submerged. Relax and try to breathe normally. Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat if you need to.”
“Heading to the coast is a great way to have fun, relax and cool off in these high temperatures, but remembering this one piece of advice could save your life if you find yourself struggling in water,” he said.
“We also encourage people to choose a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags, which is the area most closely monitored by the lifeguards.”
