UK weather maps show Mediterranean airstream to see Brits swelter in 84F heatwave

Weather maps turn a blistering red for most of the UK as a new heatwave is forecast next month.

A subtropical Mediterranean airstream is likely to spark another warm spell, sending temperatures rocketing to nearly 30C again. It will mirror the glorious spell of weather the majority of the country enjoyed this week - when beaches and parks were packed.

The latest heatwave will enjoy its peak on Sunday July 14, according to the new weather maps put together by forecasters at Netweather. It will be hottest - around 30C - across Greater London and neighbouring counties. However, the mercury will also exceed 25C in parts of Suthwest England, early indications suggest.

But the weather since the sizzler on Wednesday has been rather unsettled for many in the UK. More than 40mm (1.6 inches) of rain fell across parts of Scottish Highlands on Friday, and it also rained heavily across North Yorkshire. Further showers are forecast for Sunday, particularly across parts of the Midlands.

The beach at Weymouth, Dorset was busy with daytrippers today

Despite the weather maps, the long-range forecast according to the Met Office sees weather alternate quickly between wet and dry conditions. In its forecast for the middle to the end of July, the Met Office predicts: “On balance most likely rather changeable at first, with periods of unsettled and cloudy, wet weather mixed with spells of dry and fine weather, with weather systems tending to come from the west.

“This means that the west is likely to see the wettest conditions, while the east will tend to be drier. By mid-month, there is a signal for more settled conditions to develop, so more in the way of dry weather, although still with a risk of some rain/showers at times. Temperatures close to average at first, but with a greater chance of warmer than average conditions later in the period.”

Temperatures at the end of this week have struggled to reach anywhere near Tuesday and Wednesday's 30C highs. On Friday, they peaked at 22C at Heathrow Airport in west London, nearly 10C colder than the baking 31C peak experienced in nearby Surrey on Wednesday.