The Met Office has warned that a new 30C heatwave could hit Britain this weekend as a separate forecast shows 38C heat in parts of the country in July. Temperatures are expected to return to near-seasonal levels this week, however the relief may be brief, as forecasts suggest the blistering heat may soon return.

June's record temperature was broken again on Friday, with Santon Downham, Suffolk reaching 37.3C, surpassing the high of 37.1C measured in Cavendish, Suffolk earlier that afternoon. The Met Office is forecasting a pleasant start to the week, with temperatures expected to reach the low to mid-20sC across many areas. Temperatures may reach heatwave thresholds in some areas, but forecasts indicate that this event is unlikely to match the extreme heat and humidity experienced last week.

Towards the end of this week temperatures could once again hit 30C thanks to high pressure building across large swathes of the nation.

Tony Wisson, Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster, said: “Toward the weekend, high pressure will continue to build in across most of the UK as it extends from the Azores. This will lead to more settled, warm or very warm conditions for many, especially across England and Wales, though some rain may still affect the far north.”

“The forecast for this weekend suggests that temperatures could approach high 20sC across parts of England, perhaps 30C in parts of the southeast, with values of mid to high 20sC in Wales", added Mr Wisson.

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