Highs of up to 35C are expected
Another heatwave is due to hit the UK and it will last longer than July’s record-breaking hot spell, exacerbating dry conditions that have already led to hosepipe bans in some parts of the country.
Temperatures over the coming days won’t hit the scorching high of 43.C last month but they will hit the mid-30s and continue over a “prolonged period”, the Met Office has said.
Brits have been urged to not have barbecues in the tinder-dry conditions after 15 homes were evacuated following a garden fire that spread out of control in Essex on Saturday.
Temperatures of up to 35C are expected and the heatwave is expected to peak on Friday or Saturday.
The fire in Essex led to “multiple gardens, sheds, and outbuildings” being destroyed and a dozen properties damaged.
About 40 people fled their homes, and seven required treatment for injuries and smoke inhalation.
Neil Fenwick, area manager for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, said: “While summer weather usually provides the perfect opportunity to host a barbecue or gather around a chiminea in the evening, we’re strongly discouraging people from having any kinds of fires at the moment.”
The whole of England and Wales is set to feel the effects of the heatwave.
Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said: “It does look like a prolonged period of dry weather and obviously that’s bad news for southern England where some rain would really be useful now.”
While it is not clear which areas will see the highest temperatures, early forecasts suggest they could be found in the West Midlands and the West Country.
Morgan says heatwave criteria are likely to be met across the UK – potentially putting strain on the NHS as the most vulnerable suffer heat-related problems.
“We’re quite confident temperatures will not go as high as they did during July, but the difference is that this is going to be quite a prolonged period of temperatures in the low 30s, so it will be very notable nonetheless,” he added.
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