Soaring humidity and blistering temperatures, raising the UK’s "heat index" to health-harming levels, threaten a "dangerous" week-long heatwave.
Temperatures could nudge the mid-30s over the next 48 hours, although the greater threat is posed by stifling tropical moisture.
Warm air will push in today from the Continent, currently roasting in a stifling 40C heatwave.
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Soaring humidity and blistering temperatures, raising the UK’s 'heat index' to health-harming levels, threaten a 'dangerous' week-long heatwave
|WXCHARTS
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHA) has issued a widespread Heat Health Alert amid fears of "significant impacts" and "rise in deaths".
High heat and humidity can create a deadly double whammy, raising the "heat index" – a measure of the perception of heat on the human body.
Jim Dale, meteorologist for British Weather Services, said: “The issue over the next couple of days is going to be the high heat index, because heat and humidity are going to rise very quickly making it feel very oppressive.
“This combination is the reason the health alert is in force, because high heat and humidity can be dangerous for those at risk.
“Tuesday will bring the peak of this burst of heat, and we are looking at temperatures in the low- to mid-30Cs across central regions, with cooler conditions further north.”
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Hot weather is expected to hold out in parts of the UK into next weekend, although temperatures will dip from today.
High pressure, forming a dome of oppressive heat and sun, will hold out in the south for another week.
Dale said: “We are expecting the hot weather to hold out in the south of the country through the rest of the week as high pressure remains dominant.”
UKHA has issued yellow and amber alerts across southern Britain, the Midlands and the northeast.
Elderly people and those vulnerable to extremes of heat are most at risk for the next 48 hours.
A UKHA spokesperson said: “Significant impacts are possible across the health and social care services due to the high temperatures.
“This includes a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions.
“There may also be impacts on younger age groups.”
Meteorologists warn the next few days will bring soaring temperatures, humidity and high UV levels.
High pressure over the south of the country will pull plumes of tropical air in from the roasting Continent.
High pressure, forming a dome of oppressive heat and sun, will hold out in the south for another week
|WXCHARTS
Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said: “The fourth summer heatwave will see temperatures rise quite widely across England and Wales in particular.
“High pressure is sat to the southeast which means that we are drawing in hot and humid air over the next few days, but with low pressure to the north and the west, there is the risk of some rain at times here and an increasing risk of some thunderstorms.
“On Tuesday, in that sunshine with high UV levels, temperatures will really rise, and we are looking at 33C across central and central-southern parts of the UK.
“Temperatures overnight will become increasingly warm.”
While temperatures will dip ahead of the weekend, it will be much warmer than usual for the time of year, he warned.
He said: “We are looking at the low- to possibly mid-30Cs over the next few days, and possibly a little less hot as we get to the end of the week but still well above average around 29C to 30C.”
Bookmaker Ladbrokes has slashed the odds on the latest heatwave rocketing August into the record books.
Spokesman Alex Apati said: “A scorching couple of weeks could be on the cards, and with Brits now bracing for a heatwave, we've slashed odds on this going down as a record-breaking hot August."
Jason Nicholls, lead international forecaster for AccuWeather, added: “It will be a very warm start to the week, staying warm on Wednesday although there will be a risk of isolated showers.”