Brits can expect 31C weather again on Sunday as the UK is hit by its third heatwave of the year.
The soaring temperatures are a slight respite from the 33.1C recorded on Saturday in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, but still mark a sweaty UK summer so far.
Scotland recorded its hottest day of the year yesterday, with 32C reached in Aviemore in the Highlands, as well as Belfast in Northern Ireland recording temperatures hotter than they’ve been in almost three years.
By this afternoon, temperatures in UK cities like London, Birmingham and Manchester are surpassing the 30C mark again as a third heatwave engulfs the UK.
Meteorologist for the Met Office, Kathryn Chalk told MailOnline that temperatures may even reach 31C in the West Country.
Amber Health alerts have been put in place for the Midlands and both the south and east of England until 9am on Monday, warning of a potential for a rise in deaths amongst those aged 65 or over, or with health conditions.
The wildfire risk is also currently rated as “severe” by the Natural Hazards Partnership, as six million homes have been hit with a hosepipe ban, as fire chiefs war of the risk of drowning as people try to cool off in water.
In addition to the amber alerts, the UK Health Security Agency has yellow warnings in place until Monday for the north-east, north-west, Yorkshire and Humber.
National Rail has also warned train passengers that hot conditions may continue to cause disruption today.
Temperatures look set to cool slightly this afternoon up North, with areas like Newcastle forecasted to reach a pleasant 22C.
This is expected to rise to 26C in Glasgow, but along the M8 motorway to Edinburgh it is expected to drop to 22C.
Cardiff is also expected to be scorched by a 30C forecast today, while in Belfast temperatures are reaching 26C.
However, today does seem to be the last day of the UK’s third heatwave of the year for most of Britain, with the Met Office predicting that temperatures outside London will cool next week.
While the capital will still be in the high 20s, cities like Liverpool and Newcastle are expected to see heavy rain early next week, with maximum temperatures across the Midlands and north west being around 25C.
Ms Chalk said: “The good news if you aren’t a fan of the heat, is that the peak of the heatwave nationwide was yesterday with temperatures still widely warm today, just not as hot. Highs of 31C with plenty of sunshine.”
“Low pressure moves in from the west with showers, and a few thunderstorms, pushing northeast through the day interspersed by sunny spells. Cooler and fresher air follows from the west, but still warm in parts of the east with highs of 30C here. Elsewhere closer to average around 22-24C.
“A changeable period with rain and showers, heavy at times, mixed between sunnier and brighter spells. Fresher air reaching all on Tuesday with near average temperatures, then becoming warmer again later in the week but not as high as what we have seen this time round. Perhaps 30C again by Friday for London.'
Ross Macleod, Water Safety Manager from the RNLI, issued a warning around the dangers of cooling off in cold water and offered advice if doing so.
He said: “Even in hot weather, the seas around our coasts are cold enough year-round to trigger cold water shock, while waves and rip currents can overpower even the most experienced water users.
“Most people who find themselves in difficulty in water will panic or thrash about but we’re urging people to ignore this instinct and remember to float: Tilt your head back, with your ears submerged. Relax and try to breathe normally. Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat if you need to. It’s fine if your legs sink – we all float differently.
“By doing this, you give yourself the chance to rest and recover your breathing. Once you’ve regained control of your breathing, you can call for help or swim to safety.
“Heading to the coast is a great way to have fun, relax and cool off in these high temperatures, but remembering this one piece of advice could save your life if you find yourself struggling in water.
“We also encourage people to choose a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags, which is the area most closely monitored by the lifeguards.'
The cooler temperatures next week are expected to mark the end of the third heatwave, which scientists warn is the result of climate change.
They say that heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense as a result of human-made climate change, and experts have warned heatwaves are 'silent killers', as many severely underestimate the impacts of heat.
Experts also say that the UK is unprepared for the increasing likelihood of extremely hot conditions brought about by climate change - especially earlier in the summer, when people are less acclimatised to handle it.
Dr Friederike Otto, associate professor at Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London said climate change was an “absolute game-changer” for heat in Europe, which would see more frequent and intense heat waves.
“Heat waves are called the silent killer, for a reason, every year thousands of people in Europe die due to extreme heat, particularly those that live in poorly insulated homes, on busy, polluted roads, and that already have health problems,
“But extreme heat also leads to agricultural losses, infrastructure failure and puts a big strain on plants and animals.”
Warnings around wildfire risks have also been issued by conservationists and green experts, as well as the impact on farmers facing another poor harvest following one of the driest springs on record.
However, retailers warned that fruit and vegetable prices in Britain were increasing due to the hot and dry weather reducing harvest yields.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said this jump caused shops to have to return to inflation prices for the first time in almost a year.
Shop prices were 0.4 per cent higher in June than a year earlier, marking a significant jump from the decline of 0.1 per cent seen in May, according to the BRC-NIQ Shop Price Index.
Food inflation increased to 3.7 per cent from May's 2.8 per cent in May, and fresh food was 3.2 per cent more expensive than a year ago.
The meat industry has also been hit by high wholesale prices and more expensive labour costs.
Speaking of the wildfire risk, Ben McCarthy, head of nature conservation and restoration ecology at the National Trust, said: “With record-breaking temperatures across the country this week following the driest spring on record, our ranger and countryside teams are on high alert for fires which can cause decades of damage to habitats, decimate ecosystems and result in significant losses to our wildlife.
“Unfortunately, the sad truth is that most of the fires in the UK that impact our landscapes are started by people, whether accidentally or not, rather than by natural causes.
“Therefore, we're calling on people to help us protect wildlife and habitats by acting responsibly when outdoors, as even a small spark can cause a fire, and to please call 999 if you see a fire or any suspicious behaviour.”
