Get Ready, London: The Surprise Date A Major Summer Heatwave Is Set To Blast The Capital

After the UK set a new maximum temperature record for June over three consecutive days last week, many of us are now enjoying the cooler weather.

The week-long heatwave – which saw red and amber heat health alerts in place across much of England and Wales – culminated in a high of 37.3°C at Santon Downham in Suffolk on 26 June (the hottest temperature recorded for this time of year).

Multiple schools across southern England closed or allowed pupils to head home earlier than normal due to the extreme temperatures. Public transport was also disrupted in some areas.

While this week’s generally looking a lot more settled on the weather front, it seems another heatwave is making its way to London sooner than many might’ve hoped. 

When is the next London heatwave?

Friday 3 July will see highs of 27°C in London, with the same again forecast for 4 July, climbing to 28°C on 5 July and 30°C on 6 July, according to BBC Weather.

From 7-12th July, the capital is expected to remain hot with temperatures floating around the 30°C mark.

The Met Office’s long-range forecast for 3-12 July suggests “high pressure will dominate across England and Wales … bringing dry and warm conditions with plenty of sunshine for most”.

“Temperatures will rise through the period, perhaps becoming very warm or hot in places,” it added.

As it stands there are no heat health alerts in place, however this may well change as the week progresses.

When is a heatwave officially declared?

Heatwaves are declared when a location experiences at least three consecutive days where it meets – or exceeds – a ‘heatwave temperature threshold’.

These thresholds vary across the UK. In London, for example, the temperature threshold is 28°C.

The Met Office previously said that hotter summers are becoming more likely in the UK in general.