Monday 2 July 2018

The Caribbean comes to Britain as beaches turn into sunsoaked idylls

Britain's longest heatwave since 1976 continued today with temperatures set to top 85F (29C) for the eighth day in a row - and the heat is here to stay for another month. 

Forecasters predict more wall-to-wall sunshine across the nation throughout July – although the summer's first thunder warning was issued yesterday as the dry spell came to a dramatic end in some parts of the South West.

Plymouth saw 0.4in (10mm) of rain in an hour yesterday during the first ever Met Office thunderstorm warning, and there is a chance of further showers later in the week - but the forecast is mostly dry for the next fortnight.

Temperatures could even get close to the hottest ever day recorded at the Wimbledon Championships, with the current record for the tennis tournament in South West London being 96.3F (35.7C) on July 1, 2015.


The Met Office said it would be the hottest Wimbledon ever recorded at the All England Club if temperatures across the 14-day competition in SW19 average over 77.7F (25.4C), the record set at the 1976 event.

Met Office forecaster Helen Roberts said: 'This week could see 33C (91F) in the second half of the week, and next week looks much like last week and could come close to 35C (95F).

'Lots of very warm, dry, sunny and settled weather is ahead, and humid nights mean it will be difficult to sleep.'

For most places over the weekend, yesterday brought more sunshine, with a top temperature of 90F (32.2C) recorded in Gosport, Hampshire - after Saturday got up to 85.1F (29.5C) at Otterbourne in the same county.

The warmest temperature of the year so far could be beaten again this week, with the current record of 91.4F (33C) set in Porthmadog in North Wales last Thursday - the fourth day in a row last week that a new 2018 high was recorded.

The Met Office said: 'The fine weather looks set to predominate across the UK, with mostly dry, sunny and warm conditions, especially in the south.

'However, there are likely to be interludes of less settled weather, with some rain at times, especially across the far north and northwest of the country. Temperatures overall are likely to be above average during the second half of July, with some further very warm spells possible.'

The first hosepipe ban of the season in England could be days away. After a ban was put in place in Northern Ireland last week, a spokesman for United Utilities, which supplies the North West, said it would be considered.

With dry, sunny weather and temperatures in the low-80Fs (high-20Cs) for much of this week, tennis lovers should be in line for plenty of action as the Wimbledon Championships begin in South West London.

Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge said that apart from a low risk of a shower first thing this morning before play starts, 'there should not be too much risk of stoppage of play, certainly not because of the weather anyway'.





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