Summer could be hottest on record as ‘heat dome’ heads for UK from Europe

Anyone fancy retiring to Iceland for the summer?

Brits are set to bake in 30C heat Wednesday as forecasters have warned this summer could be the hottest on record due to a "heat dome" developing over Europe.

Soaring temperatures may stay throughout July and August, with the Met Office issuing an amber warning for England and Wales from Sunday when the mercury is forecast to hit 35C. The warning has since been extended until Tuesday with people being advised to stay indoors. The unrelenting heat has reportedly led to the government writing the first-ever emergency heatwave response.

The mercury peaked at 31.7C in the village of Wisley, Surrey, on Tuesday, and is expected to cool Thursday and Friday before temperatures soar again until at least Tuesday.

A meteorologist with the US National Weather Service told CNN that the extreme weather could be attributed to a phenomenon known as a “heat dome” which occurs when high pressure traps hot air over a given area, blocking other weather patterns from moving in to cool the temperature. https://twitter.com/metoffice/status/1546485192377909249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1546485192377909249%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.joe.co.uk%2Flife%2Fman-tries-to-cash-in-on-heatwave-347918 While some supercomputers have predicted that heat will soar to 43C this weekend, the Met Office has argued that "mid to high 30Cs" is more realistic. However, it has said there is a 30 per cent chance of the heat rising above 40C, The Independent reported. The UK’s record high for 2022 currently stands at 32.7C, taken at Heathrow on 17 June. The heatwave, The Sun reports, is due to come to an abrupt end on Wednesday as temperatures plummet to 17C in the east of the country. The country will be hit with thunderstorms and heavy rain as the cooler weather comes in. Meanwhile, Brits have been getting creative with their cooldown techniques to combat the heat, with one genius man from Chester building a "portable plunge pool" that can be filled up in just 5-minutes. [caption id="attachment_348028" align="alignnone" width="864"] Via Facebook[/caption] Posting to the Facebook group Cheshire, Wirral & North Wales Bargains, inventor Chris Davis explained: "With the temperatures hitting 30 degrees today (Monday), we all need to cool off and that's where the portable plunge pool comes into its own! "It fills up within five minutes and is available in black, brown or green. Family size also available in red." Related links:

• First-ever heatwave emergency response 'being drawn up by government', report claims
• Aldi is selling a pet sunbed just in time for the heatwave
• Don't Look Up: Tory leadership candidates rip up climate pledges as Britain bakes in the heat