UK weather: Health warning issued as mini-heatwave expected with temperatures set to hit nearly 30C

Brits could finally feel the summer heat this weekend – and a health warning has been issued for large swathes of the country.

Many wonder if we will ever be graced with warm weather this year, with cold temperatures and grey, rainy skies being seen consistently until mid-July.

Some parts of the country were issued with rain warnings earlier this week, but that is set to change quickly as temperatures rise through Friday.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued several heat warnings for the south-east since early Thursday morning.

According to the Met Office, London is expected to see temperatures of up to 29C on Friday, while it will be “very hot” in south-east England.

The UKHSA has issued a yellow heat health alert to coincide with rising temperatures across London, the East Midlands, eastern England and the south east.

For all affected areas, the alert will go into effect at 5am on Thursday and will remain in effect until 11pm on Saturday.

The government agency said the hot weather could have “minor impacts” on the health and social care sector, including an increase in mortality among vulnerable individuals.

He warned that there could be an increase in the use of health services.

Temperatures are expected to rise from Wednesday, with temperatures rising to 24C in the capital overnight. The rise in temperatures is a sign of a warmer end to the working week, the Met Office said.

“Temperatures (will be) close to normal but will be very hot in the southeast,” a spokesman said.

By 4pm on Thursday, the mercury is forecast to hit 26C in London, followed by 23C in Cardiff and 22C in Manchester. It will be slightly cooler in other areas, such as Plymouth and Glasgow, where it will be 18C.

A similar trend will continue on Friday, with warmer weather again in the capital, where temperatures could peak at 29°C by 4pm.

On Thursday, Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said: “As we head into the afternoon, some decent spells of sunshine and some warmer air also surrounds us, so temperatures are likely to be a little bit warmer perhaps than Wednesday at 26, maybe even a little bit warmer than that, so we’re feeling particularly warm.”

And on Friday, he said parts of the country under the sun “will get quite hot.”

But over the weekend, Mr Burkill said there was “uncertainty as to the details” of the weather, adding that low pressure was likely to lead to cold conditions with some wind and rain.

Despite it being July, the last few days have been cold and quite rainy, with some parts of the country receiving rain warnings earlier this week.

On Tuesday, a Met Office yellow weather warning was still in place for rain across north-east and eastern Scotland – including Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee – until 8pm.

Spray and flooding mean difficult driving conditions and possible road closures, the organization warned, adding that there was a small chance some homes and businesses could be flooded.

Elsewhere, Tuesday is expected to be a dry day for many, but with temperatures not exceeding 21°C.

The same picture will continue on Wednesday, but with most places seeing a “fine and dry” day with “reasonable amounts of sunshine”, the Met Office said.