Forecasters are warning households all across the UK to brace themselves for 'tropical' nights as the heatwave carries on into early next week.
It comes as the Met Office extends its amber warning for extreme heat for the majority of England and Wales and will now remain in place from Sunday until the end of next Tuesday. Temperatures are also expected be at their highest on the following Monday or Tuesday.
Warnings have also been issued regarding potential health issues across the population stemming from the hot weather - not excluding those vulnerable to heat - including potential serious illness or danger to life. Furthermore, the hot weather is expected to cause road closures and cancellations and delays to rail and air travel.
Read more: Met Office extends 'extreme' weather warning AGAIN as heatwave to hit UK
Edmund King, AA president, said: “It is crucial that car drivers take care in this heat with melting roads and record temperatures. Children and pets should not be left in parked cars even for short periods as cars become ovens.”
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While many may be hoping to do a spot of swimming to help cool off over the weekend, a warning has also been issued to stay away from taking a dip in unsupervised open waters and not to leave pets or children in parked cars, even for a short period of time. According to the met office, the current heatwave is the result of high pressure and hot air flowing to the UK from the Continent.
Temperatures are expected to decrease slightly over the next couple of days, building up again over the weekend with many areas seeing high 20s and even 30C. There is a chance that a new heat record could be broken early next week, smashing the current record of 38.7C.
Meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth said: “We’re looking at a prolonged spell of hot weather and very hot nights.
“It’s likely we will see some areas, particularly more urban areas in the south staying above 20C, so we could see some tropical nights. Where we’ve got the extreme heat warning, as well as the hot daytime temperatures it will likely be warm at night, which brings trouble sleeping.
“It doesn’t look like it will just be one night, it’s the cumulative effect of some uncomfortable nights in a row, which no-one will enjoy.”
Dr Agostinho Sousa, from the UK Health Security Agency, said: “Heat-health alerts have now been issued to the majority of the country, with temperatures set to remain consistently high throughout the duration of this week. Most of us can enjoy the hot weather when it arrives, but it is important to keep yourself hydrated and to find shade where possible when UV rays are strongest, between 11am and 3pm.
“If you have vulnerable family, friends and neighbours, make sure they are aware of how they can keep themselves protected from the warm weather.”
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