Latest Met Office London heatwave forecast as weather experts predict 31C scorching temperatures

London is set for a scorcher today with charities urging heat-seekers to slap on the sun cream and stick a fan on amid safety warnings. The Met Office reckons the capital could seek a peak of 30C with highs of 20C more widely in South East England as the sunny spells continue on Tuesday (June 25). It comes after the hottest day of the year so far on Monday (June 24), with a peak of 28.3C in Surrey.

London saw a peak of 27.4C at St James’s Park, while temperatures rose to 26.9C in Aberdeenshire and 25C in Northern Ireland. The mercury is set to rise again on Wednesday, with the forecaster predicting a peak of 31C. Early forecasts are also looking positive for those attending Glastonbury Festival, with largely sunny spells from Wednesday to Sunday and temperatures averaging the low 20s.

It marks a break from the rainy spring, which saw 32 per cent more rainfall than the average in England and Wales, according to the Met Office, and hampered businesses reliant on tourism or high street foot traffic.

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Oli Claydon, a Met Office spokesman, said there won’t be sunshine for everyone but will still be warm even where there is cloud cover during the week. “We might see the occasional shower in parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland, where there will be a little bit of cloud through (Tuesday), but otherwise clearer skies in the South East and that’s where we’re going to see the highest temperatures,” he added.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) issued a safety warning on Monday reminding people heading to coastal areas to take precautions. The advice includes swimming between red and yellow flags, and attempting to float and control your breathing before calling for help or swimming to safety if you get into trouble in the water.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow heat health alerts for most of England, warning the warm conditions could pose a risk to vulnerable individuals. The heatwave threshold is met when a location records at least three consecutive days with maximum temperatures exceeding a designated value, according to the Met Office.

This is 25C for most of the UK, but rises to 28C in London and its surrounding area, where temperatures are typically higher. However, the heat is only expected to last until Wednesday with heavy showers, thunderstorms and persistent rain possibly returning in the west as the week goes on.

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