The UK is set to experience its hottest June day in 176 years as temperatures will soar to 35 degrees this week.
Britain is said to be hotter than the Maldives, as today and tomorrows highs will reach 33C.
Forecasters say areas in the south will see highs of 35C on Wednesday, while the north will hit 28C.
June’s record temperature since Met Office records began in 1841 is 35.6C, set on June 28, 1976, in Southampton.
But forecasters predict Wednesday could beat this record.
The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: “The heatwave is getting hotter. Forecast models show 35C on Wednesday in the South – meaning Wednesday has the potential to be the hottest June day on record.”
There’s also good news for festival goers as Glastonbury is forecast to be the ‘hottest ever’.
Glastonbury is predicted to be the hottest since the festival began 47 years ago in 1970, with Wednesday’s 29C start beating the Somerset festival’s record temperature of 27.3C set in 1989 and 2010, Met Office records show.
But rain is expected at Glastonbury on Thursday night and Friday night, with 20C weekend showers, the Met Office said.
Thunderstorms are also due in the north on Wednesday and in the Midlands on Thursday.
Britain’s highs cool to 25C from Friday.
Met Office forecaster Emma Sharples said: “It’s very hot, with around 33C on Monday and 32C on Tuesday.
“Wednesday looks like 33C in the South – but a subtle change of wind direction could make the maximum temperature higher. Even the north should see 28C. Thursday could see 32C in the south.
“But thundery showers will move into northern England and Scotland on Wednesday and last through the day – and may drift into the Midlands on Thursday.”
She added: “Glastonbury looks like a hot start, with 28C or 29C on Wednesday, so suncream will be needed.
“But it looks like rain across the site possibly on Thursday night and more likely Friday night, with a few showers to end the weekend. Fans should pack accordingly.”
Britain is forecast a ‘hotter-than-normal’ three months ahead as an “extreme heat” summer pushes a record 38C.
The Met Office three-month forecast reports a “clear shift” to hotter-than-normal temperatures until the start of September.
Ladbrokes has cut odds to 4/1 for this summer breaking the 38.5C record for Britain’s hottest temperature ever recorded, set on August 10, 2003, at Brogdale, near Faversham, Kent.
The Met Office June to August forecast said: “There is a clear shift towards warmer-than-average conditions for June-August.
“The probability the UK average temperature will fall into the warmest of our five categories is 35 per cent. The coldest category is 10 per cent.”
The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze added: “37C is possible in the UK this summer as long as the early summer pattern of heat being pumped up from southern Europe continues.”
Mirror UK
