The third heatwave of the year will hit the UK this weekend with temperatures set to climb to 34C in the coming days, as Europe reels from a deadly heatwave that killed thousands last month.
A week-long warning from health officials came into force at midday in parts of the UK, with the Met Office warning that high temperatures later in the week could cause a greater risk to life for vulnerable people. Yellow heat health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), covering the East Midlands, east, south-east and south-west of England, including London, and the West Midlands, from midday on Saturday until 8pm on July 11.
“UK braces for third heatwave with temperatures up to 34C as Europe records deadly excess deaths.”
But this heatwave is expected to be less severe than June’s record-breaking scorcher. Aidan McGivern, Met Office meteorologist, said: “It’s not going to be as hot or as humid so not quite as uncomfortable, and not quite as impactful. It also will not affect the whole of UK.”
Temperatures in the south could reach 29C on Sunday, before approaching the low 30s next week and hitting a peak of 34C on Thursday or Friday. The heat will be concentrated in the south and south-east of England, while western Scotland is set to have a very wet spell, especially over the west and northwest Highlands where there is the risk of over 100mm of rain by the end of this weekend, Mr McGivern said.
The contrasting weather is due to an “emerging area of high pressure extending over the Azores sitting close to the south and southwest over the weekend,” he added. “A westerly airflow over the top of that high brings frontal systems into Scotland, and those fronts will ebb and flow. They will bring a lot of cloud, a strong breeze and outbreaks of heavy and persistent rain.”
The news comes as Europe is still counting the cost of last month’s heatwave. France recorded 2,025 excess deaths in the last week of June – a 29% increase on the previous week – with the French health ministry saying the figure was likely an “underestimate” and mortality would “therefore be higher than these initial figures”. French health minister Stéphanie Rist said there had been a “clear increase” in deaths among those over 45.
Belgium recorded 1,222 excess deaths during the heatwave – 39% more than usual – with almost half being people aged 85 and over. The country’s health ministry said the number of deaths during a heatwave was “unprecedented”. In the Netherlands, about 480 excess deaths were recorded, most of whom were aged 80 and older.
France saw its hottest day ever on average country-wide on 24 June, with temperatures hitting almost 41C in Paris. Drowning deaths also soared during the heatwave, with French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez saying on Saturday that 72 people had died by drowning since 18 June.
Climate change is driving up temperatures around the world – but particularly in Europe. It is the fastest warming continent, heating up twice as fast as the global average, according to the Copernicus climate service. This is causing increased summer heatwaves, greater pressure on Europe’s water supply, and more intense wildfires.