Will there be another UK heatwave this week with temperatures set to rise again?
Temperatures have returned to normal following the record-breaking heatwave that swept the country last week.
The Met Office said much of the UK will enjoy typical summer weather this week, with some areas expecting showers.
Temperatures could rise again later in the week, with top temperatures of 27 degrees expected in some parts of the country, putting the UK on the brink of a new heatwave.
Met Office forecaster Honor Criswick said: “The new week brings some fresher weather, it won’t be as hot or humid but there is still some sunshine in the forecast.”
Many Britons will be relieved by three consecutive days of cold weather after record temperatures reached 37.3C in Santon Downham, Suffolk, on Friday.
How hot will it be this week?
South-east England will see the warmest weather in the first half of the week; The highest temperature in the capital is predicted to be 25C and temperatures will not fall below 16C overnight.
Ms Criswick said: “We will see showers heading into the North West for most of the time, but showers across Scotland will dissipate well by Monday afternoon.
“There will be plenty of sunshine and much lighter winds in the afternoon, with highs reaching around 23 to 24C.”
The Met Office has forecast heavy rainfall in the North West on Tuesday, which could reach North East England by the afternoon.
Temperatures will be in the high and low 20s across much of the country, but could soar as high as 27C in London from Thursday, nearly heatwave levels.
Could there be another heat wave?
The UK has already suffered two heatwaves this year, breaking the record for the hottest spring ever in England and Wales.
A heatwave occurs when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days in which daily maximum temperatures meet the heatwave temperature threshold.
The temperature threshold is 27C in much of south-east England and 28C in London and surrounding areas.
The threshold may not be fully reached until this weekend, but forecasts suggest the next heatwave could still arrive within two weeks.
A third heatwave could return on July 7, when temperatures will reach 32C in southeast England, according to forecasting platform WXCharts, although long-term forecasts are less reliable.
The highest temperature in the capital on July 8 may be 36C, and the next day it may be 35C. WXCharts predicts temperatures will reach the high twenties in the coming days.
In its three-month summer outlook, the Met Office said temperatures in the period from 11 to 25 July were “generally likely to be above normal, with warmer conditions likely to be higher than normal at times”.
Met Office five-day forecast
Monday
The UK is largely drought today, with long spells of sunshine at first. Cloudiness will increase slightly towards the afternoon, especially in the west. Heavy rain will also affect Northern Ireland and Western Scotland. Warm in the sunlight.
monday night
Heavy rain will fall towards the northwest along with strong winds. Drier elsewhere with clear spells and a fresh night for many.
Tuesday
Northern and western parts are very cloudy with intermittent showers. In the north, rain will be heavy and thunderstorms from time to time. It’s drier in the Southeast.
Outlook from Wednesday to Friday
With the appearance of dry and bright weather, it is getting increasingly hot in the Southeast. The northern and western parts are more cloudy, rainy from time to time and the temperature is around average.
