The sun is set to return to Wales on Wednesday (July 13), with temperatures set to reach highs of 25°C. Temperatures have taken a slight dip ahead of another weather front bringing warm weather from the Continent arrives over the weekend.
Temperatures in some parts of Wales could hit highs of 35°C as a rare heat warning has been issued.
The Met Office extended the warning yesterday, and it is now in place on Sunday and Monday and could also take in Tuesday if the warning is updated later. More details of that can be found here.
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Wales experienced its hottest day of the year so far on Monday when 28.7°C was recorded in Cardiff's Bute Park. The Met Office says that a persistent area of high pressure centred over the southern half of the UK is responsible for this week’s warm spell, bringing largely dry and clear weather for the week, with little cooling into the evenings.
The Met Office forecast for Wednesday says: "A rather cloudy start, especially in the south. Otherwise, it will be a dry day with light northerly winds and plenty of prolonged sunny spells. Feeling warm in the sunshine and light breeze. Maximum temperature 25 °C."
The outlook for the rest of the week says: "Thursday will be dry with light winds and sunny spells, although turning cloudier for a time through the middle of the day. Feeling warm in the sunshine. Maximum temperature 25 °C.
"Rather cloudy at first on Friday, but thereafter remaining dry with plenty of sunny spells. Temperatures increasing day on day, becoming locally hot by the end of the weekend."
During the weekend, a developing southerly flow will allow very high temperatures currently building over the continent to spread northwards to the UK.
By the weekend temperatures are expected to rise dramatically. Welsh forecaster Derek Brockway says: "Temperatures rise over the weekend. 34°C 93°F predicted in Cardiff next Monday." The Met Office issued an amber weather warning for extreme heat across parts of the UK ahead of further soaring temperatures this week. Read here why people are talking about 40°C in the next few days
The rare warning states there could be a danger to life or potentially serious illness as a result of the scorching temperatures. Other issues could include road closures and delays or cancellations to rail and air travel.
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Rebekah Sherwin said: "From Sunday and into Monday, temperatures are likely to be in excess of 35°C in the southeast, although the details still remain uncertain. Elsewhere, temperatures could be fairly widely above 32°C in England and Wales, and in the mid-to-high 20s Celsius further north."
The record high temperature in the UK is 38.7°C, which was reached at Cambridge Botanic Garden on 25 July 2019.
Ms Sherwin added: “Weather forecast models are run hundreds of times to determine the most likely weather outcome. For late in next weekend and early next week, some runs of these models are allowing exceptionally high temperatures to develop, which is something we’ll be monitoring closely and adding details in the coming days.
“Some models have been producing maximum temperatures in excess of 40°C in parts of the UK over the coming weekend and beyond. At longer time scales temperature forecasts become less reliable, so whilst these figures can’t be ruled out, they are still only a low probability. A number of weather scenarios are still possible and at the current time, mid- or perhaps high-30s are looking more likely.”
It is not the UK experiencing the hot weather. Droughts and forest fires have hit Spain and Portugal and the scorching heat has spread to France. Temperatures are set to peak on Thursday in France and Spain and authorities have cancelled traditional fireworks displays on France's national day to reduce the risk of fires.
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