Britain faces a genuine chance of breaking its all-time temperature record this week, with a Met Office meteorologist warning that the humidity accompanying the heatwave makes it “much more extreme and more dangerous” than the record-breaking conditions of July 2022.
Red and amber warnings for extreme heat have been issued for the next four days, with temperatures forecast to reach as high as 41C in parts of the country. The most likely peak is 39C, but the Met Office puts the possible range between 37C and 41C — and says there is a 20 per cent chance the all-time UK record of 40.3C, set in July 2022, will be broken.
Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said this was one of the “most exceptional weeks of weather” he had seen in his 20-year career. He warned that while 2022’s record was set in conditions of single-figure humidity, this week’s humidity levels are expected to be in the low 20s — a significant difference that will be felt acutely by anyone spending time outdoors or trying to sleep.
“The humidity this week will be on a different level compared with July 2022, making it much more extreme and more dangerous,” McGivern said. He warned of “quite oppressive nights” that will affect sleep, with little relief even after dark for much of England.
The heat warnings come as much of Europe swelters under the same system, with the conditions already turning deadly in France, where 13 people have drowned in the past 24 hours.
