A WASHOUT will plague parts of the country today with showers expected for many as the heat wave cools.
But a 35C scorcher is just days away, prompting the Met Office to issue an orange warning of temperature extremes across much of England.
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The warning is in effect from Sunday through Tuesday with the highest temperatures expected at the beginning of the week.
Temperatures are expected to hit the mid-30s, but many in the UK will face a cooler climate in the coming days.
BBC weather forecaster Ben Rich said: “For quite a few of us it’s just a bit cooler and fresher than 24 hours ago and we have some lower temperatures ahead in the coming days…”
To the south there will be some showers where it is expected to remain dry.
In areas of North Wales, North Midlands, East Anglia may experience occasional showers.
Rain is expected for Northern England, Northern Ireland and Scotland
Mr Rich said, “The odd one can be on the heavy side.
“Temperatures, well, 17C for Aberdeen and Glasgow, 19C in Belfast, still some heat in the SE corner 27C, 28C but probably no higher than 30C.”
But, he says, the heat the UK has been feeling for the past two weeks is far from over.
The long-term forecast read: “Tempers will rise over the weekend, with most areas becoming very warm or hot, with the potential for an exceptionally hot spell in parts of central, southern or eastern England.”
Mr Rich explained that exceptionally high temperatures felt in Spain are drifting to parts of England thanks to a low pressure area west of Iberia.
The wind around the low will act as a pump as it heads north in our direction.
Temperatures are likely to peak around Monday or Tuesday, he said.
Mr Rich said: “Hence this orange warning of extreme heat from the Met Office which covers large parts of England and Wales, the risk to health, the risk of disruption to transport and infrastructure.
“But in the shorter term we do have some cooler conditions.”
An orange warning is being issued amid concerns about “widespread impacts on people and infrastructure”.
Disruption includes “population-wide adverse health effects,” as well as road delays and public transportation cancellations.
Boris Johnson will chair an emergency COBRA meeting tonight.
A “national heatwave emergency” may be declared by Downing St officials.
To reach level 4, conditions must be so extreme that “illness and death can occur in the fit and healthy,” according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
However, Wednesday will see a change with temperatures returning to normal, although it will still feel warm, especially in the south.
Britain has been dealing with sweltering temperatures this week, pushing the UK’s Health Security Agency Heat Health Alert Level 3 – meaning temperatures are likely to have a major impact on public life.
Colder conditions will have spread to Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England, along with some showers in the northwest.