Temperatures in the UK soared to the highest of the year, leading to thousands flocking to beaches and festivals. However, the mini-heatwave is predicted to end as a cold front moves in, bringing cooler temperatures and changing weather conditions ahead for the start of July.
On Wednesday, the UK experienced its hottest day of the year, with temperatures peaking at 30.3C at Heathrow Airport, according to the Met Office. This rise in temperature saw thousands of people heading to beaches, swimming spots, and the Glastonbury Festival. Most of southern England recorded temperatures in the high 20s.
However, a mini-heatwave that has spread across the country is predicted to end. The UK Health Security Agency issued yellow heat health alerts across most of England, effective until 5pm today. A cold front will move from the northwest to the southeast within 24 hours, bringing cooler air and concluding the warm spell.
Chief Meteorologist Paul Gundersen said the cold front would bring patchy rain, potentially heavy in the northwest, moving east across England and Wales, which will reduce temperatures to average levels. It will remain warm in the far southeast on Thursday until the cooler air arrives by evening.
Despite the high temperatures on Wednesday, weather conditions are expected to change. Friday will be bright and breezy with showers in the north, heavier in Scotland. The weekend will see warm and dry weather, particularly in the south and east, with some cloud and patchy rain or showers mostly in central and northern regions.
Wednesday’s heat followed a high of 30.5C recorded in Chertsey, Surrey, on Tuesday. Additionally, the British Horseracing Authority is investigating if the hot weather contributed to the deaths of four horses at a Devon race meeting, marking the highest toll in a single afternoon in six years.
Looking ahead, the start of July is expected to be marked by changeable weather, featuring a mix of rain, cloud, dry weather, and possible thunderstorms. Long-range forecasts predict a period of cloudy, humid weather, followed by rain moving southeast, leading to a pattern of varied conditions with some persistent rain in the northwest and average to slightly below-average temperatures for early July.
Visitors queued early on Wednesday to enter the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, Somerset. This year’s festival will feature headline performances from artists like Dua Lipa, Coldplay, and Sza, with Shania Twain in the legends slot. The event began with thousands of attendees camping in Somerset’s sunny fields.
Tourists also cooled off punting on the River Cam in Cambridge, while others enjoyed the warm weather along the River Cam and at various beaches across the UK. The NHS reported a significant increase in visits to its heat exhaustion page since the yellow heat health alert was issued.
