UK temperatures are forecast to reach as high as 36C over the coming days
As the UK remains in the grips of its third 2026 heatwave, temperatures in Greater Manchester are forecast to soar higher than the popular holiday hotspot of Tenerife.
The Met Office has said that the highest temperatures are expected to hit the country on Thursday and Friday (July 9 and 10), when temperatures will widely exceed 30C across England and Wales, with highs of 35C on Thursday and potentially 36C in some locations on Friday.
Saturday (July 11) could see highs of 34C in southwest England and 33C on Sunday, before a gradual trend down, the Met Office says. But despite the heat, the UK weather agency has said that it will not feel as hot as the previous heatwave in late June.
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Humidity levels are expected to be lower, which will allow some areas to cool more readily overnight. But the Met Office warned that some towns and cities may still experience very warm nights, which can make sleeping uncomfortable.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree said: “Many people will understandably want to know how long the current heatwave is likely to last. While temperatures are expected to ease across southeast England through the weekend and into next week, it won’t be a straightforward end to the warm weather.
“High pressure is expected to remain in charge through much of next week, but it will gradually migrate northwards. This means that an easterly wind will become established in the south, and the focus for the hottest conditions will migrate towards the southwest.
“As a result, some places that have seen the highest temperatures during recent weeks will begin to cool. It will however, remain very warm – especially in the southwest – and heatwave thresholds may continue to be met in places.
“The overall signal is for continued fine, dry and very warm weather at times for many parts of the UK into next week. There is however a chance of thunderstorms spreading into parts of the south and southwest.”
Greater Manchester was forecast to reach highs of 29C on Thursday, rising to 32C on Friday, down to 29C for two days on Saturday and Sunday, before hitting 26C on Monday and 27C on Tuesday.
This is hotter than the Spanish holiday hotspot of Tenerife, located in the Canary Islands. Temperatures are set to peak at 27C on Thursday, 24C on Friday, 23C on Saturday, 22C on Sunday, and 23C on Monday and Tuesday.
Manchester’s extreme temperatures this week mean that this northern UK city will be 8C hotter than Tenerife on Friday.
Due to the heat on the forecast, amber and yellow heat health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), meaning significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the high temperatures.
The alerts will remain in place from 9am on Wednesday, July 8, until 9pm on Sunday, July 12. An amber alert has been issued for the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East and South West, while yellow alerts have been issued for the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West.
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