Weather: UK could see hottest day this year with possible official heatwave predicted
The UK could see its hottest day of the year so far as high temperatures bring a possible official heatwave over the next few days, according to forecasters.
Much of the country enjoyed fine and dry conditions over the weekend with many making the most of the illusive summer sun or heading to beaches and rivers to cool off.
The hottest day of the year so far was on 19 July when a high of 31.9C was recorded at St James's Park in central London.
A wave of high pressure across the country and warm air rising from the south, is creating dry, fine and sunny conditions and bringing temperatures up.
"If there's not, it's very close to it, and if you're out and about and a member of the public then it's going to feel like a heatwave anyway, because also overnight things are going to turn a little bit more humid and muggy day-on-day as well."
The threshold for a heatwave is met when a location records at least three consecutive days with maximum temperatures exceeding a designated value, according to the Met Office.
This is 25C for most of the UK, but rises to 28C in London and its surrounding area, where temperatures are typically higher.
Temperatures are expected to reach 29C on Monday and 32C on Tuesday, both in southeast England.
Many parts of the country will see temperatures four to five degrees warmer than average for this time in July.
Only the far northwest areas of Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland will see some cloud and possibly rain on Monday and Tuesday.
But the summery spell could end abruptly on Wednesday with some heavy thundery rain expected, although uncertainty remains whether this will be just across the south of England or other parts of the UK as well.
Despite the sudden showers, temperatures are expected to stay high heading into the first week of August.
Mr Partridge said: "Usually you get these thunderstorms come through and then everything's a lot cooler and fresher, but although it will be a bit fresher at the end of the week, it will still be about where we should be, if not a degree or so warmer.
"So a bit of summer is on the cards."
-SKY NEWS
