UK weather: Exact date maps turn red as North African plume brings 29C scorcher

The UK is finally set to bask in its first 29C heatwave of the year, according to new weather maps.

Despite a dull and unusually cold start to summer, things are about to heat up. Netweather.tv forecasters say there's still hope for some warmth, even though the longest day of the year is just five days away - signalling the beginning of gradually darker evenings. So far, top temperatures have barely reached above 25C, with no signs of hot weather settling in Britain for good. However, a North African plume could hit the UK before the end of the month.

This heatwave is expected to arrive via Europe, peaking on June 29 - the second last day a red highlight covers the country, indicating a rise in temperatures. Northern France will experience a sizzling 31C, which will drop by at least two degrees as it crosses the Channel to Britain. The southern coast of England is predicted to see the highest temperatures, with parts of Sussex expected to reach a scorching 29C, the Daily Express reports.

UK weather map

Other areas won't be far behind. Counties like Kent, Essex, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, along with Greater London, Surrey and Berkshire, are due to experience highs of 28C.

Birmingham and other parts of the West Midlands will swelter in highs of 27C, while Manchester and Liverpool can expect 26C. Temperatures will drop slightly further north, with towns and cities near Newcastle seeing 22C.

Cardiff in Wales is expected to experience a moderate 25C. Despite the promising early indicators from weather maps, Netweather forecasters caution that this isn't a guarantee.

This WXCharts map shows how parts of the UK will see warm temperatures (in red and orange) on June 28

Forecaster Ian Simpson explained: "There is some chance of some of that North African and southern European heat making its way to the British Isles towards the end of June, depending on whether the ridges of high pressure from the Azores align in such a way that we pull in hot air masses from the south and south-east, but this is not a certainty."

So, how long will it last? Jet streams are always lurking nearby, and there's likely to be a "pattern shift" which will cause temperatures to rise slightly as the month progresses.

uk weather map

"Predominantly west to south-westerly winds and ridges of high pressure [will be] moving in from the Azores at times, interspersed with periods of more unsettled weather with low-pressure systems coming in off the North Atlantic," he added.

The Met Office's long-range forecast doesn't hint at a heatwave, but it does suggest that temperatures are set to rise. Until June 29, it states: " Into the last week of June, changeable conditions are likely, with the focus for these conditions being across the north and west, with spells of more settled and drier conditions likely in the south and east."

"Nationwide, temperatures are expected to be close to or slightly above average."