'Large African plume' heading for Liverpool and bringing sweltering temperatures

Heat from Africa could be about to send temperatures soaring in Merseyside later this month.

Mainland Europe sweltered in freakishly hot weather during June - and something similar could be heading our way according to forecasters.

A 400-mile-wide African plume of hot air means temperatures from late July into early August have a good chance of reaching the mid-30s, with 35C certainly possible.

But first the Met Office warned of the possibility of thunderstorms later in the week.

The latest long range weather forecast reads: "On Friday many places will start dry and bright. However, cloud will soon develop with further slow-moving, heavy and thundery showers breaking out quite widely across UK.

"Temperatures near normal for the time of year, although in longer spells of sunshine it will feel warm and humid.

"As we move into the weekend, it is likely to turn more settled again and slightly fresher, with increasing amounts of dry and sunny weather.

"These settled conditions should last into the following week although there is a lot of uncertainty in how long this will last, with the potential for further changeable weather to push in from the Atlantic at times.

"On the whole, temperatures are likely to be slightly warmer than average overall, especially during settled weather."

According to the Weather Channel, the country is set to get four heatwaves - one every fortnight through the summer, beginning in mid-July and ending in early September.

A heatwave sunsert in Liverpool Bay, off New Brighton beach, Wirral (Liverpool Echo/Colin Lane)

Head of meteorological operations Leon Brown said: "After unprecedented June heat across Europe, four more periods people would call heatwaves are forecast in the UK this summer.

"Each period would see maximum temperatures reach at least 28C.

"Maximum temperatures this summer from late July into early August have a good chance of reaching the mid-30s, with 35C certainly possible, due to the influence of heat from Africa."

A heatwave is an extended period of hot weather relative to the expected conditions of the area at that time of year, which may be accompanied by high humidity.