THERE is a 30% chance that Sunday will be the hottest day ever recorded in the UK - but Scotland looks set to avoid the highest temperatures.
On Monday, the Met Office issued an amber weather warning for extreme heat across parts of the UK ahead of further soaring temperatures this week.
The rare warning states there could be a danger to life or potential serious illness as a result of the scorching temperatures.
Other issues could include road closures and delays or cancellations to rail and air travel.
The Met Office said the warning is in place from 12.01am on Sunday to 11.59pm, when temperatures are predicted to soar into the 30s.
It is being enforced across the East Midlands, east of England, London, South East, North East, North West, South West, Wales, West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber. Cooler conditions are expected in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The warmest day on record in the UK was the 38.7C scorcher recorded at Cambridge Botanic Garden in July 2019.
On Monday, Wales recorded its hottest day of the year so far as the mercury reached 28.7C in Cardiff’s Bute Park.
In England, the temperature peaked at 32C in Northolt, west London.
England’s hottest day so far this year remains the 32.7C recorded at Santon Downham, in Suffolk, on June 17.
Network Rail has warned speed restrictions are likely to be in place this week on some parts of the network most affected by the hot weather.
But Scotland and Northern Ireland are predicted to have a cloudier week, with rain forecast for Tuesday and Friday.
The whole of England is largely expected to experience sunny days with some cloud over the next week to match the temperatures of mid to high 20s.
It will cool off a little on Friday, with the north-west and north-east of England predicted to have some rain with temperatures reaching highs of 19C.
Temperatures are expected to spike to 32C in Reading and London on Sunday and in excess of 35C in the southeast.
Weather forecasting models suggest it is possible – though not likely – temperatures could reach 40C in the UK next weekend.
A Level Three Heat Health Alert has also been issued by the Met Office and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) from 9am on Monday to 9am on Friday in the east and south-east of England, with the rest of the UK having a level 2 alert in place.
The four-level system highlights the potential health impacts of these high temperatures.
On Monday, Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge said: “Parts of south-east England could exceed 35C on Sunday.
“At the moment, we are looking at a 30% chance of seeing the hottest temperature recorded in the UK.”
