UK weather forecast: Britain to swelter in heatwave next week after wet start to Sunday

Temperatures to peak around 30C next week

Following a week of torrential downpours and thunderstorms, temperatures are expected to rise into the high 20s for many as a spell of dry, sunny weather arrives in the coming days.

A wet start for most early on Sunday will make way for a cloudy and generally breezy day. Temperatures are cooler in the northwest and warmer in the southeast, reaching around 22C in London.

However, showers may be more persistent in northeast Scotland, at times heavy, and slow to ease.

After a clear but chilly night for many areas tonight, the Met Office expects the coming week to bathe in the warm weather and plenty of sunshine.

Deputy chief meteorologist Martin Young said: “By the middle of next week we’ll see temperatures across much of England and Wales widely climbing into the mid to high 20s Celsius and it will probably be hot in parts of southern and eastern England, as temperatures peak close to 30C.

“It’s possible Northern Ireland and Scotland will join the rest of the country in seeing a spell of warmer weather later next week, as this hot air from the continent extends northwards across the UK.”

However, forecasters warn the hot air may result in “severe thunderstorms” later in the week.

The UK observed the summer solstice on Saturday and were treated to 16 hours and 38 minutes of daylight.

After yesterday, the nights will begin to get longer as the Earth rotates, tilting the northern hemisphere away from the sun.