UK set to sizzle in six-day July heatwave and it'll kick off 'next Wednesday'

The UK will roast in a heatwave in July with temperatures hitting the mid-to-high 20s by July 10. UK weather maps have turned orange as the south east, east of England and London experience warm temperatures from July 10 to July 16 in a six-day blast of balmy 20C-plus conditions after what has been seen to be a disappointing start to the seventh month of the year.

In a forecast for July 8 to July 17, the Met Office said: "Temperatures are expected to rise back to the July norm from the cool beginning to the week, with the potential for wafts of warm continental air to affect the southeast at times. Into the second week, there are tentative signs that conditions could gradually become a bit more settled, though temperatures are likely to remain around average overall."

Looking ahead from July 18 to August, it went on: "There is a chance that the period could start off on a settled note, but overall fairly changeable and at times cool weather is slightly favoured during the second half of July. This doesn't rule out brief warm or even hot spells. Wetter than average conditions are slightly more likely than drier than average conditions, with western and southern UK more likely than elsewhere to see above average rainfall."

READ MORE UK tourists in France this summer face £115 fine for breaking 'new law'

Maps and charts from Netweather and WX Charts show the mercury skyrocketing through the teens and back into the 20s. Paul Gundersen is a Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office and said of this week: “Strong winds are expected on Thursday, with Scotland bearing the brunt. Inland areas in Scotland could see gusts of 30 to 40 miles per hour, whilst coastal areas and hills could experience gales with gusts of 40 to 50 miles per hour.

“Along with that wind, the west and northwest of Scotland will also see blustery showers, which will perhaps merge into longer spells of rain later. A few showers are also likely across Northern Ireland, Wales and northern England, but southern England should remain dry with sunny spells.

“It will feel cooler in the damp northwest, but temperatures will be nearer average in the south and southwest. That rain is expected to continue in parts of Scotland and perhaps Northern Ireland overnight.”