Britain set for a scorching weekend with 82F temperatures…but South could see a washout on Sunday

Temperatures in UK due to hit 27C today, 26C tomorrow and 28C on Sunday
But rain will affect some areas with heavy downpours Sunday in South East

Britain is set for another hot weekend with temperatures hitting 28C (82F) – but forecasters also warned some areas could be hit by up to 1.6in (40mm) of rain.

The Met Office said the mercury would remain above average for the time of year over the coming days but conditions will become more ‘unsettled’ from later today.

Forecasters said the rain will first affect western parts of Northern Ireland from this afternoon, with thundery showers and up to 1in (25mm) falling within an hour.

They said the showers could also hit parts of Wales and South West England this afternoon, but the risk of rain there would increase overnight and into tomorrow.

The threat of showers tomorrow will be most frequent across northern and western areas, although much of the rest of the UK will enjoy bright sunshine for the day.

Sunday is then likely to be a washout for parts of the South East for most of the day as well as much of central Scotland, with heavy rain forecast for both areas.

A man goes for a jog through Hyde Park in London this morning as he enjoys the sunny weather

A beautiful morning at Hyde Park in London today as horses trot alongside the Serpentine

Early morning swimmers at Hyde Park in London today as they make the most of the weather

A woman walks her dog alongside the Serpentine at Hyde Park in London this morning

A dramatic sunrise this morning at Eye Bridge over the River Stour in Wimborne, Dorset

Noctilucent clouds form between 1.15am and 2am this morning at Tynemouth Priory in Tyne and Wear

Noctilucent clouds are extremely rare very high clouds seen in the night sky, usually on clear, summer nights, one hour after sunset and an hour before sunrise when the sun sits between -6 and -10 degrees

They become visible about the same time as the brightest stars and are usually bluish or silver

The Met Office added that the risk of thundery showers for some is likely to continue into next week, but temperatures will remain above average for the time of year.

River levels in England continue to fall despite recent thunderstorms

River levels in England are continuing to fall, despite the recent storms and torrential rain, figures show.

Levels have dropped week-on-week at three-quarters of sites monitored by the Environment Agency.

Some sites on the Derwent and Eamont rivers in Cumbria are classed as being ‘exceptionally low’.

But in a few places levels are ‘notably high’, including parts of the Weaver river in Cheshire and the Itchen in Hampshire.

River flows were below normal for the time of year at 26 per cent of inspection sites in the week to June 13, compared with 17 per cent of sites the previous week and 13 per cent a fortnight ago, the Environment Agency said.

Thunderstorms brought torrential downpours to parts of England over the weekend and Monday – the first major rainfall in some areas for several weeks.

The figures show central England received 17mm of rain between June 1 and 13, the equivalent of 29 per cent of the long-term average.

North-west England had 15mm, or 19 per cent of the average, while south-east England had 12mm, or 22 per cent.

Rainfall has been lower in south-west England (4mm or 6 per cent), eastern England (3mm or 7 per cent) and north-east England (3mm or 5 per cent).

Total rainfall across England stood at 9mm from June 1 to 13, the equivalent of 14 per cent of the long-term average.

Last month saw England receive only 65 per cent of its average rainfall – though the figure for the three months from March to May was above average, at 121 per cent.

Some showers are likely in the west of England today, with an increasing chance of thunderstorms tomorrow, on Sunday and into Monday, the Environment Agency added.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Steven Keates said: ‘Over the coming days we’ll be transitioning to a more unsettled regime for the UK, though temperatures will remain high and it’ll feel very humid for many.

‘Heavy showers and thunderstorms are likely to become more frequent through the weekend, with the potential for associated hail, lightning and some gusty winds.

‘While the focus of thundery showers on Friday afternoon will be Northern Ireland, that risk spreads more widely across western and southern areas of the UK on Saturday, before pushing further north on Sunday.

‘As in many of these situations, these showers can be hit or miss, with some places avoiding them whilst other areas nearby may see some very wet conditions.’

‘There’s an ongoing likelihood of warnings being issued in the coming days, so keep an eye on the weather forecast for the latest outlook.’

The Met Office said it is still establishing where the heaviest thundery rain will be at the weekend, but more than 1.6in (40mm) of rain could fall in some places in short period tomorrow and on Sunday.

But they added that the most likely exception to the unsettled shift in conditions is over north-eastern parts of Scotland, which will enjoy the dry weather for the longest.

Despite more thundery conditions being on the way, temperatures will remain high while a plume of warm air still influences conditions in Britain.

The Met Office said the mercury would likely remain in the mid-to-high 20Cs for some throughout the weekend, although some places could dip slightly below the threshold for the official heatwave to continue.

The threshold for a heatwave is different across the UK. In some areas it is classified as hitting highs of 25C (77F) to 28C (82F) across a three-day period.

Forecasters said maximums would range between 24C (75F) and 27C (81F) in most of England, Wales and Scotland today, although the North East and far South West could be closer to 21C (70F) or 22C (72F).

Tomorrow will be a similar story fort temperatures, with highs of 26C (79F) expected in the South East, and 21C (70F) to 25C (77F) elsewhere across Britain.

Sunday is looking even warmer, with Birmingham the UK hotspot at 28C (82F) and London close behind at 27C (81F). Temperatures for the rest of Britain will range between 18C (64F) and 26C (79F).

The Met Office also said night-time temperatures will remain well above average, providing ‘little relief to those more vulnerable to high temperatures’.

The threshold for a heatwave is classified in some areas as hitting highs of 25C (77F) to 28C (82F) across a three-day period. This graphic shows which areas are officially in a heatwave

Dan Stroud, a spokesman for the Met Office, said conditions would become ‘increasingly humid and uncomfortable’ over the weekend, especially in inner cities, with temperatures unlikely to drop below the 20Cs overnight.

Employers are urged to help staff cope with heatwave conditions

Employers are being urged to relax dress codes and allow staff to work at cooler times of the day to help them cope with the current heatwave.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said other measures include using blinds or reflective film on workplace windows to shade workers from the sun, and making sure there is plenty of drinking water.

HSE said the current temperatures for June, and the record-breaking temperatures reached last summer, show that helping workers during extreme heat must be a priority for employers.

Spokeswoman Clare Owen said: ‘The updated yellow heat-health alert, as well as the extreme heat we experienced in 2022, should serve as a wake-up call for all employers.

‘We know that employers are under pressure and we don’t want to add to their burden, but climate change means we’re likely to get hotter summers and that could have a big impact on the workforce of this country.’

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: ‘We’ve all been enjoying the sunny weather after a cold start to the year, but working in sweltering conditions can be unbearable and dangerous, whether it’s in an overheated shop, a baking office, or outdoors in the direct sun.

‘Indoor workplaces should be kept cool, with relaxed dress codes and flexible working to make use of the coolest hours of the day.

‘Employers must make sure outdoor workers are protected with regular breaks, lots of fluids, plenty of sunscreen and the right protective clothing.’

Ryan Exley, of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, said: ‘There isn’t a maximum temperature for workplaces in the UK, but it is crucial people do all they can to stay cool and hydrated in hot weather. Failure to do so can lead to dehydration and heatstroke.

‘There are many simple steps people can take to ensure they don’t suffer. These include wearing appropriate, light and loose-fitting clothing, drinking lots of water, taking regular breaks, and moving to cooler parts of workplaces if possible.’

The UK Health Security Agency, which covers the healthcare sector in England, has a Heat Health Alert in force.

It comes as an NHS medical director said the heat had contributed to one of the ‘busiest days ever’ in A&E departments across the country yesterday.

Earlier this week, the UK Health Security Agency extended its Heat Health Alert until next Monday.

NHS national medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis added: ‘We know the warm weather has increased demand on services and this week we have seen one of our busiest days ever at A&E departments.

‘As we move into what’s forecasted to be a very warm weekend, the heat and the impact of industrial action will continue across the country.

‘NHS staff are working hard and prioritising urgent and emergency care, so as ever, use 999 in emergency and life-threatening situations and NHS 111 online for other health concerns.’

A UK Health Security Agency spokeswoman warned that the sustained heat could impact the health and social care sector.

She said: ‘If current forecasted temperatures are reached it is likely that there could be some impacts across the health and social care sector.

‘A yellow alert means that any impacts include the increased use of health care services by vulnerable populations and an increase in risk to health for individuals over the age of 65 or those with pre-existing health conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

‘If you have friends, family or neighbours who you know are more vulnerable to the effects of hot weather, it is important you check in on them and ensure they are aware of the forecasts and are following the necessary advice.’

Residents across Kent and Sussex have been left without water for days and schools have been forced to close amid a surge in demand during the hot weather.

South East Water bosses are asking customers to use water for ‘essential use only’ and have set up bottled water stations across affected areas while it builds up reserves.

Wealden MP Nusrat Ghani has hit out at the water company for failing its customers, and is looking at getting water tanks delivered to places such as schools.

A warning to customers to use only essential water supply stretches from Haywards Heath, West Sussex, towards Whitstable, Kent.

A message from South East Water apologised to those experiencing low or no water, adding: ‘The soaring temperatures across our regions have meant we are using more water than normal.

‘Over the weekend we treated and supplied enough additional water to serve four towns the size of Maidstone or Eastbourne. So, we’re asking for your help – please use water for essential purposes only to keep the taps flowing for everyone.’

Last Saturday was the UK’s hottest day of the year so far, with 32.2C (90F) recorded at Chertsey in Surrey.

The Met Office said it was also the first time temperatures had got above 30C (86F) in the UK since August 24, 2022.

Since Saturday, the UK daily high has been 32C (89.6F) on Sunday, 31.3C (88.3F) on Monday, 30.8C (87.4F) on Tuesday, 29.8C (85.6F) on Wednesday and 28.8C (83.8F) yesterday.