Fifth heatwave of the year likely next week as temperatures could hit 35C

two people under an umbrella shading themselves from the strong summer sunshine walking in front of a fountain at Buckingham Palace

BySimon King Lead Weather Presenter

Heat will once again build across the UK this weekend before the fifth widespread heatwave of the year is likely to be declared next week.

From Sunday and into next week, temperatures could exceed 30C in south-east England.

Yellow heat health alerts have been issued for most of England until Tuesday, warning of impacts for health and social care services and an increased risk to life for vulnerable people.

These are likely to be updated by the UK Health Security Agency in the coming days as a widespread heatwave develops.

Graphic showing the heat-health alerts from the UK's Health Security Agency with all of England, except north-west and north-east England under a yellow alert — Image caption,

Heat-health alerts come into force across most of England on Saturday

Temperatures on Saturday will begin to climb above average again, reaching the mid- to high 20s Celsius in most of England and Wales.

It will be cooler in Scotland and Northern Ireland at 17 to 21C with more cloud, a bit of rain and a blustery wind.

By Sunday and into next week temperatures will rise even further with many parts of the UK exceeding their heatwave threshold temperature of 25 to 28C, depending on location.

With this hotter weather expected to last well into the week, many locations will have the three consecutive days needed to declare the fifth widespread heatwave of the year.

It has already been a remarkable summer in the United Kingdom with multiple records broken.

July has been the sunniest month on record for the UK, as well as the driest July on record for England and Wales.

There have so far been 33 days this year when temperatures have exceeded 30C in the UK. Next week, it is likely the record of 34 days, set in 1995, will be broken.

For the first time ever, a temperature of 35C has also been recorded somewhere in the UK on the three consecutive months of May, June and July.

It is possible August will join that list by the end of next week as some forecast models suggest 35C in central and south-east England.

scorched brown grass with two people sat down talking. In the distance a woman is walking some dogs — Image caption,

Scorched ground is a familiar sight now across many parts of the UK as the very dry weather continues

Some rain is forecast for Scotland and Northern Ireland on Saturday before reaching northern England and north Wales on Sunday; elsewhere, it is likely to remain dry.

Wisley in Surrey is now up to 51 days without recording any rain.

This could easily rise to 60 days with no rain the forecast across southern England.

Despite the ongoing dry weather, August is typically the wettest of the summer months across the UK.

There are signs that the second half of the month could become unsettled as low pressure becomes more dominant.

However, with no significant rain in sight across England and Wales, the current drought conditions with hosepipe bans will show now sign of easing.