An African plume of extremely hot air is set to hit Britain with scorching temperatures within days, with parts of the country sweating in temperatures of 27 degrees Celsius.
The Saharan scorcher is expected in the UK starting Friday, August 23, and new maps show the storm could linger in the country for a full week, through August 30.
According to the Meteorological Institute Parts of the country could see “very warm conditions”, particularly in the south and east. Maps from WXCharts show temperatures in the low 20s for London and Kent.
Looking at wider maps for later in August, you can see a huge bulge of hot air covering Spain, Portugal and France before crossing the English Channel into Britain. In southern Europe, temperatures could reach the mid-30s, or even 40C and above in places.
Looking ahead to Monday August 19th through Wednesday August 28th, Meteorological Institute said: “Temperatures will generally be around average, but there is a chance of short-lived, very warm conditions in the south and east.
“A stormy start to the week with clouds and rain in many places. This should clear up, so that a lighter period with showers in the northwest will develop halfway through the week.
“The second half of next week is uncertain, partly influenced by the remnants of former Hurricane Ernesto.
“The most likely scenario is a period of unstable weather, especially in the north and west, with the possibility of heavy rainfall and strong winds, while it could be warmer and less wet in the southeast.
“Towards the weekend and the week after, there will probably be a weak westerly wind, with mainly wet weather in the north and west and longer dry periods in the southeast.”
Ernesto is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane shortly, with its center expected to pass near Bermuda on Saturday.
Bermuda's Minister of National Security Michael Weeks said: “This is not the time to be complacent. Residents must prepare now before conditions worsen.”
The storm was moving over open water today (Thursday) about 670 miles (1,080 kilometers) southwest of Bermuda, with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (137 km/h) and northwesterly winds of 16 mph (26 km/h).
A hurricane warning has been issued for Bermuda, where tropical storm conditions are possible on Friday and hurricane conditions on Saturday.
Tropical storm warnings were lifted for Puerto Rico and the surrounding islands of Vieques and Culebra and for the U.S. and British Virgin Islands after the storm passed.
Today:
Mostly fine and dry in England and Wales and likely to be dry in the south and east, but windy. Strong winds and rain across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England with heavy rain on high hills.
This evening:
The band of cloud and rain continues to move southeast, leaving Kent by sunrise. Dry and clear conditions follow with a few stormy showers in the northwest.
Friday:
Dry with sunny spells for many on Friday, with persistent showers in north-west Scotland. Feeling windy here, but lighter in the south. Feeling warm in the sun.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
Staying the same over the weekend with moderate winds and temperatures around average. More rain expected from the west through Monday, with heavy showers in the north.