AN URGENT heat health alert has been issued as a 600 mile-wide Spanish surge brings a 30C heatwave to the UK.
Most regions can expect fine, dry and very warm weather with plenty of sunshine as the temperatures are dialled up in central and southern areas.
The mercury is expected to climb so high that an extreme heat warning has been issued by the Met Office.
A level 2 heat health alert has been issued covering southern and eastern areas.
The “alert and readiness” grade is triggered as soon there is a 60 per cent risk that temperature thresholds will be reached in one or more regions on at least two consecutive days and the intervening night.
Sweltering days could hit the low 30s across large parts of southeast England with warm nights in between.
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The weather bureau are advising Brits to reduce the risk by reading up on the Heatwave Plan for England.
Brits will be back outside this weekend with beaches expected to be swarming with visitors.
Met Office forecasters predict temperatures could go as high as 35C by next week, making it hotter than Antigua, in the Caribbean, which will only top 29C.
Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said: “Forecast models suggest mid-30s temperature highs later next week.
“All eyes are focused on a southerly airstream which could waft additional heat to our shores.”
Today is expected to see a high of 29C with the mercury nudging 30C by Sunday.
A recent heat map shows the band of boiling hot temperatures just sitting south of the UK and is forecast to move north by Friday.
Only in the far northwest it will remain cloudier and cooler with rain at times.
Temperatures are due to climb even higher early next week and reach the “mid-30s” as the week progresses.
The run of scorching temperatures is expected to last long enough for the Met Office to officially declare it a heatwave.
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The forecaster said in an update: “Areas with lower heatwave thresholds, especially southwest England and south Wales are more likely to reach heatwave criteria from Thursday onwards.
“Elsewhere with the higher thresholds, the chance of an official heatwave is more marginal, although it’s possible they could also reach their heatwave thresholds from Sunday.”
