The Met Office has said when the current heatwave is likely to end after several heat health alerts were issued this week.
The forecaster has issued a red extreme heat warning that is in place from 9am on Wednesday (June 24) to 9pm on Thursday (June 25).
It covers a swathe of England and Wales, and temperatures have reached the high 20s in areas of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The heatwave could come close to the UK’s all-time temperature record of 40.3C, set in Lincolnshire in July 2022.
High temperatures have potential impacts on public health, infrastructure, water and power supplies.
A spike in water safety incidents is also expected, as more people head to rivers, lakes and the coast to cool off.
When will the heatwave end?
The heatwave will likely end at the beginning of next week, meaning there are still a few more days to endure the high temperatures.
The Met Office shared that Thursday (June 25) will be the peak of the heat for many, but eastern England will retain extreme heat on Friday and Saturday (June 26 and 27).
It adds: "The far southeast will retain the warmth the longest, though there should be a climb-down in figures by Saturday, with peaks around 32°C likely.
"Next week is likely to see a change to more of a westerly influence on the UK’s weather, with a return to more average temperatures for the time of year and a mixture of winds and rain, particularly for those in the northwest."
Therefore, from Monday, June 29, it is likely to cool down a bit.
Why does the heatwave feel more intense?
While hot spells are not unusual in the summer, the current conditions are very rare for June.
The current UK June temperature record stands at 35.6C, which was recorded back in 1976.
The Met Office adds: "Runs of very high temperatures are also uncommon.
"Historically, sequences of three consecutive days reaching 35°C have only occurred a handful of times, such as in June 1976, August 1990 and August 2020.
"Temperatures exceeding 37°C on consecutive days have been recorded only during the July 2022 heatwave."
What's made the temperatures feel more intense is the humidity that has come along with it.
When moisture levels in the air are high, it becomes more difficult for the body to cool itself through sweating.
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This increases the risk of heat stress and associated health impacts.
The Met Office explains: "Forecast dew points around 22°C are particularly notable, indicating very humid conditions.
"For comparison, during the July 2022 heatwave, dew points were much lower in the single figures, meaning this event will feel more uncomfortable despite similar or slightly lower peak temperatures."
Are you looking forward to temperatures cooling down a bit? Let us know in the comments.
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