First heatwave of 2025 likely as temperatures to surge above 30C

A row of multi-coloured beach huts on the right with some grass and a view over looking blue sea and bright blue skyBBC Weather Watchers / squiz

The hottest spot in the UK so far this year was in Suffolk on 13 June

Chris Fawkes
Lead Weather Presenter

Temperatures are set to soar to more than 30C (86F) this week as an area of high pressure builds across the UK.

It will become increasingly hot later this week and by the weekend some places could easily beat the highest temperature recorded so far this year - 29.4C (85F) in Suffolk on 13 June.

For a heatwave to be declared by the Met Office we need to reach a threshold temperature for at least three consecutive days, and that varies from 25C across the north and west of the UK, to 28C in parts of eastern England.

Whilst we have seen temperatures exceeding these figures in recent weeks, the warm spells have not been long enough to qualify as a heatwave - but that could be about to change.

A map showing heatwave thresholds across different areas of the UK, ranging from 28C in London and parts of the south-east of England, down to 25C for the north and west of the UK

A heatwave is defined by the Met Office as three consecutive days above these temperatures

Temperatures over 30C for the first time this year

The warm weather will be concentrated across East Anglia and south-east England on Tuesday before spreading across the Midlands, east Wales and north England by the weekend.

By Wednesday the heat becomes much more widespread with highs of 28C, and by the weekend the hot spots surge somewhere between 30 and 33C.

Meanwhile, it will become warmer in Northern Ireland and Scotland later in the week, but it will be more comfortable here with temperatures mostly in the low 20s.

UK heat maps for Thursday, Friday and Saturday showing how the heat becomes more widespread later this week

Becoming much hotter later this week

When will the heatwave end?

By Sunday things become more uncertain and we may see fresher air move in from the Atlantic with a risk of thundery downpours.

However, some forecast models keep the heat for longer, especially in East Anglia and south-east England with temperatures continuing to stay above the 30C mark.

Heatwaves are becoming more common due to climate change, with a greater chance of seeing extreme heat.

They can cause problems for our infrastructure, such as trains running at reduced speeds due to the risk of train tracks expanding and buckling in the heat.

We also see more heat-related health problems which can lead to an increase in excess deaths in those with underlying health conditions.

Heat-health alerts are issued to warn health providers of the risk of a heat causing adverse impacts to the health and wellbeing of the population.

Heatwaves: The New Normal?

How hot is too hot? From heat labs to firefighting helicopter pilots and wineries, we look at how extreme heat impacts people and environments in the UK.

Watch on iPlayer