Hotter than Ibiza: Britain to bask in 30C temperatures this week

Sunseekers will revel in sweltering heat this week as temperatures soar past 30C (90F) in parts of the UK.

Met Office experts are confident they will reach 32C in the south of England on Wednesday and 33C on Thursday – making them the hottest days if the year so far.

Spokeswoman Nicola Maxey told Yahoo News UK to expect a prolonged spell of sunshine that could reach 34C (93F) in some parts of England.

The forecasted 32C in London is two degrees hotter than the predicted temperatures in Ibiza for the same period.

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“Temperatures will be rising as we progress through the week,” Maxey said, “reaching the high 20s across the country, and isolated areas could see peaks of between 30-34C.

“We will also see very warm nights of up to 19 or 20 degrees.”

But she warned the heatwave would not last.

“Due to a change in weather type, these temperatures are likely to drop by the time we reach the weekend,” she said.

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While warmer air usually pushes in from Europe, this time the air originated over the Atlantic and has been recycled, having passed over Britain then heated by warmer temperatures on the continent before returning.

Temperatures of 34C would rival the hottest June day on record. A high of 34C was reached on 29 June last year, recorded at Heathrow.

The only places where it will be more comfortable are eastern coastal areas, which will see slightly lower temperatures.

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Maxey added: “This week, if we track the air back it is coming from the Atlantic Ocean. It moves east across the UK and then it does a loop southwards.

“After it crosses Spain the air comes back to Britain and this movement heats the air and it is even hotter by the time it gets to us.”

From Monday, Britons can travel to Spain as the country eases its restrictions for tourists – but the weather at home in the UK is likely to be warmer this week than the 25C or 26C forecast in Gran Canaria or the 28C in Tenerife.