Parts of England will experience highs of 29C today as the Met Office warns of heavy rain in other parts of the country.
The Met Office has said south-east England can expect hot, sunny and dry weather over the next few days after highs of 30C in London on Tuesday.
In southern England, the mercury could reach 29C on Wednesday and remain in the low 20s until Thursday, while temperatures in northern parts of England and Scotland are likely to remain warm but will drop slightly to above 20 °C.
Met Office meteorologist Rachel Ayers said it would be “very warm to hot and humid in the south-east”, but with “close to average temperatures in the north-west where there will also be wind”.
Forecaster Aidan McGivern added: “A gloomy cloudy start to Wednesday, lots of cloud covering the hills of Wales and the south west.
“An area of rain pushes into the midlands and central S England then turns to rain and fades before affecting the south-east. So once again largely dry and another warm day 28C, 29C once the sun comes out.”
Hot and dry weather will persist across southern England this week
(PA)
More rain will cover the north of the UK on Thursday. Wednesday will also bring the chance of thunderstorms as showers move south-eastwards across Wales and England.
Northern parts of the UK can also expect more showers on Thursday.
Mrs Ayers said: “The next few days will see unsettled weather in parts of the UK, particularly in the north and west, where there will be outbreaks of rain which could be heavy at times.
“In the south, it remains generally dry, although there is a chance of rain on Wednesday, although it is unlikely to bring much rain to the south coast and south-east.
“It will be very warm and humid over the next couple of days in the southeast during the day and overnight, although from Thursday it will be cooler and cooler for a couple of days.”
View of low water levels in Loch Roadford in Devon
(Andrew Matthews/PA)
The rain comes as July 2022 was recorded as England’s driest since 1911, with just 24% of the forecast amount of rain, the Met Office said based on its provisional figures.
The National Drought Group held an emergency meeting in July amid concerns that a drought could be declared if hot, dry weather persists. Most of England is experiencing “prolonged dry weather”, but no part is yet considered to be in drought.
UK weather forecast this week
Wednesday:
Light rain and drizzle should clear in parts of S England, then some very warm sunshine across much of England and Wales. NW UK cloudier with occasional showers.
Outlook from Thursday to Saturday:
Showers, locally heavy with a risk of thunder from Scotland until Friday. More rain follows in the northwest later in the day and into the weekend. Elsewhere, mostly fine.