Phew...heatwave on the way

PACK away the umbrella and get out that sunblock again... temperatures of up to 86F (30C) are on their way.

This time next week, the mercury will hit 77F (25C) before rocketing further for a lengthy sunny spell.

Forecasters predict a fortnight of glorious temperatures with “warmer and drier” conditions.

A Met Office spokesman said: “Fine and dry weather for much of the UK is most likely for the rest of July.

“Temperatures are likely to be above average for much of this period, with an increased chance of some very warm spells occurring in the south.

“There is the possibility that occasional spells of rain may impact northwestern areas, with a very low chance of thundery conditions developing at times, especially across the south.”

Britons in most parts will have to wear their waterproofs until the middle of next week, with scattered showers set to continue for six days. Temperatures today will be slightly higher than recently, especially in central and eastern England where they could reach 73F (23C), saidWeather Outlook.

But showers are on their way to southern, central and eastern areas, with the heaviest expected in East Anglia.

It was the second warmest June on record for Europe.

The average temperature was 1.5 degrees above the 1991-2020 average, the EU’s Earth observation programme Copernicus said.