Yahoo News When will the heatwave end? Why is the UK weather much hotter this summer? Plus Met Office weather warnings explained
Britain's trademark summer disappointment of rained-off BBQs and festivals has been replaced this year with a heatwave which has swept the UK for much of June and July.
This week, London and the South East will be basking in temperatures up to 35 C, hotter than Miami.
But why is this summer so unseasonably warm - and when will this heatwave end? Here's everything you need to know:
Why is the weather much hotter this summer?
Heatwaves happen when high pressure weather fronts develop, and they can linger for days or weeks.
When the UK does experience a rare heatwave, this is due down to the location of the jetstream - a core of strong winds around 5 to 7 miles above the Earth's surface blowing east to west.
During the summer months, these jetstreams cause pressure to build up, resulting in the hot weather.
Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill has said that the 2018 summer heatwave is being caused by high pressure over the UK and warm air flooding in from Europe.
When will the heatwave end?
Good news for sun worshippers - there's no sign of this heatwave stopping any time soon.
The sky-high temperatures look set to continue well into August, with the bookies' odds at 2/1 for the all-time high temperature of 38.5 C to be topped during the heatwave.
What's the impact of extreme summer heat?
Heatwaves can result in a rise in fatalities, with deaths attributable to hot weather. The Met Office regularly issues alerts with young children and the elderly most at risk.
The August 2003 heatwave, which lasted over 10 days, is said to have resulted in some 2,000 additional deaths in the UK.
This year, there are major concerns over sun damage, with 220 people being admitted to hospital due to sunburn over the last two months alone.
The extreme heat can also cause disruption to trains due to warping of tracks. It can also spark grassfires.
What do the Met Office heat health levels mean?
The Heat Health Watch Service, run by the Met Office and Public Health England, has four levels of responses to heatwaves based upon threshold maximum daytime and minimum nighttime temperatures. They are:
LEVEL 1: This is the minimum alert and is implemented every year from June 1 to 15 September. This just means that people should be aware of what to do if the alert level is raised.
LEVEL 2: issued when there is a high chance that the threshold will be exceeded within the next few days.
LEVEL 3: issued when the thresholds have been exceeded.
LEVEL 4: issued when a prolonged hot spell becomes severe.
The UK is currently on a level 3 alert.
What should I do during a heatwave?
Public Health England have issued a number of tips for staying safe in the heat. These include:
Look out for others, especially the elderly, young children, babies and those with underlying health conditions
close curtains on rooms that face the sun
drink plenty of water as sugary, caffeinated or alcoholic drinks can make you more dehydrated
never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially young children or animals
try to keep out of the sun between 11am and 3pm
if going into the water to cool down, follow safety advice
if you go into the heat, walk in the shade, wear a hat and apply sun cream
avoid physical exertion during the hottest parts of the day
wear light, loose-fitting cotton clothes
make sure you carry a bottle of water with you whilst travelling
