Britain will parch to a crisp under near rainless skies sparking warnings of an autumn drought and growing threat of wildfires.
The next fortnight for many is worryingly dry although persistent could cover will drop temperatures from the 30C highs of early August.
A potential heat surge at the end of summer will arrive to a tinder box triggering warnings for worsening wildfires.
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Jim Dale, meteorologist for British Weather Services, said: “The picture for much of the rest of this month is sunshine and dry weather, which although will make for pleasant conditions, will drive the risk of drought.
“With this, conditions will be favourable for fires, so there will be a growing risk of wildfires going through the end of summer.
“Temperatures through the next week or so will be in the low- to mid-20Cs, but there is very little rain in the forecast.”
High pressure, the driver of dry, warm skies, will dominate Britain’s weather over the next week, he said.
It will also hold at bay the boiling heat sizzling the Continent as pressure systems split between regions, he added.
Firefighters from Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) at Bloody Bridge car Park, Newcastle in Co Down
|PA
He said: “We have our own home-grown high pressure which means that we are not going to see any of that heat coming up from Europe.
“It will be dry and pleasantly warm across southern Britain, and cooler to the north where temperatures may dip below average for the time of year.
“During the start of autumn, though, there may be a change to something wetter and perhaps warmer.”
Temperatures across southern Britan will hit the mid-20Cs this week with mid-teen highs in Scotland and the north.
Homegrown high pressure over the UK
|WXCHARTS
Eastern coasts will also catch a chill off the north sea with top temperatures of just 14C or 15C along the fringes.
Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said: “The week ahead is expected to stay dry for the vast majority, although it will be cooler compared to the weekend and in particular, compared to last week.
“On Tuesday, temperatures will be in the mid-20Cs and feeling pleasantly warm, but overall, it will be cooler for Scotland and northern England with temperatures a little bit below average for the time of year.
“During the second half of the week, it is likely to stay dry for the vast majority with temperatures close to average.”
Wildfire alerts come as Britain faces a growing threat from summer blazes blamed on climate change.
But the UK will be feeling cooler
|WXCHARTS
Imperial College London has warned of a risk of ‘firewaves’ – spates of fires caused by dry, hot weather.
Scotland, Wales, Essex and parts of the West Country have already been impacted by fires fanned by the not weather.
A Met Office study warns that rising temperatures mean Britain’s summers could be blighted by the risk of fire.
Dr Douglas Kelley, a land surface modeller at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH), said: “Our findings underscore a stark reality: climate change is amplifying fire risks right now, even here in the UK.
“Wildfires will pose an increasing risk to people, property, infrastructure and ecosystems as temperatures continue to rise.”
A spokesperson for the National Emergencies Trust added: “The reality is that wildfires have been quietly plaguing several parts of the UK, posing a growing threat to wildlife, ecosystems, and human lives.”