UK hot weather: 40C heatwave to blast Britain as high pressure builds

Despite recent downpours and cooler temperatures, the Met Office said there were indications for “above-average temperatures are stronger” from July 12 to July 26.

The UK’s national weather service warned such meteorological changes would create a “correspondingly higher likelihood” of heatwaves.

Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey said: “Towards the middle to the end of July there is an increasing chance that high pressure may become established.

“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.”

He added: “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.”

Despite Britons potentially basking in glorious summer sunshine, the tail-end of June will see continued rainfall across much of the United Kingdom.

The Met Office warned showery outbreaks of rain will move east across Scotland tonight.

Daytime showers experienced across England and Wales will likely fade.

However, heavy bursts of rain remain possible north of the border for much of tomorrow.

The weekend will see a combination of scattered showers and dry spells.