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Met Office daily weather: The heat continues into midweek

The heat continues through mid-week

Wednesday will bring another very warm to hot day across much of the UK, with temperatures peaking in eastern England where conditions may become locally very hot.

There is a low probability of temperatures reaching the mid 30s°C, with 32–34°C expected more widely in the east. Parts of Scotland may also see isolated highs above 30°C. Elsewhere, temperatures will generally range from the low to mid-20s Celsius, with Shetland remaining cooler in the mid to high teens.

Coastal areas, particularly in southwest England and Wales, will feel cooler compared to Tuesday. Medium-level cloud may produce some showers across southeast England, while isolated thunderstorms are likely to develop over parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England during the afternoon and evening, moving northward as the evening progresses.

During the night, showers will become more widespread across northern England and Scotland, some of which may be heavy and thundery. Southeast England may continue to see isolated thundery showers from medium-level cloud, though many areas will remain dry with clear spells. Low cloud is expected to reform around southern and western coasts and may drift onto northeastern coasts. It will remain warm overnight.

Outlook for Thursday

Thursday will begin with cloudy conditions and outbreaks of showery rain across northern areas, particularly Scotland, where showers may be heavy and thundery. As the day progresses, cloud is expected to break up and showers will become increasingly confined to northern Scotland.

Elsewhere, any overnight showers will clear eastwards early in the day, leaving a predominantly dry day with sunny spells. Northern Ireland may still see a few light showers. Winds will be light to moderate throughout.

Following another warm night, temperatures will be closer to average in western areas but will remain very warm elsewhere, with hot conditions persisting in parts of eastern England.

Met Office presenter and meteorologist, Honor Criswick, said: “Wednesday morning, any cloud across this south and southwest may linger through the early hours, eventually easing away through the course of the morning. Still some showers just drifting their way north-eastwards across parts of Scotland. A chance one or two could be heavy. We may even hear the odd rumble of thunder. But once again, it is set to be a dry, settled day. Blue skies returning and it is going to be intense in that sunshine.

“Now, some areas aren't going to see quite as hot temperatures across the southeast, for example, but here still we are going to push into the high 20s. So, it is still certainly going to be hot, but not quite as hot as we'll see this afternoon. But central areas, parts of the north, once again, just pushing into the low 30s. Not much wind either. So, it is going to be intense in the heat across much of the country. Later on into the evening, remaining dry. But we could see a return of the cloud, particularly across this southeast.

“There is a chance it could be thick enough to produce some showers. Still a chance once again it could be they the showers could turn heavy with a risk of thunder but many across the country will see a dry evening and then for the rest of the week there is still a risk of showers at times but mostly high pressure dominating so lots of settled conditions and we are set to see a slight rest bite in the heat but it is still going to be warm and a chance we could start to see that heat it build once again across southern parts of the UK some low confidence at this point as to exactly where is going to see the hottest of the temperatures.”