UK weather: Met Office issue thunderstorm warnings as Brits to be hit by scorching 34C heatwave

The UK is set to swelter once again this week, with temperatures reaching highs of 34C across some parts of the country.

Brits were seen basking in the hot weather today, making the most of the warm weather, with temperatures reaching highs of 29C in the south of England.  

Visitors to Peterborough Lido crowded around the eight-lane pool — ready for a quick dip if they needed to cool off.

While visitors to Cambridge enjoyed punt tours on the River Cam and families built sandcastles on Bamburgh Beach in Northumberland. 

And temperatures are expected to rise again on Monday, to a staggering 34C, in a ‘short-lived but quite intense’ hot spell.

But a severe weather warning has been put in place for thunderstorms for large parts of the UK next week, with forecasters warning the storms could cause some disruption. 

The warning for northern England and Scotland is in place from 2am on Monday until 1pm that day, while the alert for Northern Ireland begins after midnight until 7am. 

Nicky Maxey, Met Office spokeswoman, said: ‘The hot spell is short-lived but quite intense.’

She added: ‘Temperatures are due to peak on Monday and rapidly return to average on Tuesday and Wednesday.’

The Met Office has said there is an increasing threat of heavy rain and thunderstorms on Sunday night and into Monday. 

This looks most likely across portions of Wales, northern England, Northern Ireland and southern and eastern Scotland.

‘Sudden flooding’ could lead to road closures and there was a ‘slight chance that power cuts could occur’, it said.

The hot air mass will most likely become displaced by fresher conditions in the mid-week, with the weather expected to become unsettled once again. 

Pollen and UV levels will increase as we see temperatures rise. 

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Dan Holley, said: ‘We expect to see a relatively brief hotter and more humid spell of weather for Sunday and Monday, before these hotter conditions recede on Tuesday, allowing more unsettled conditions to return.

‘This change to hotter conditions is caused, in part, by the effects of Tropical Storm Debby in North America. Debby is helping to strengthen the jet stream, causing it to meander over the Atlantic. This will allow hot air over France to move into the UK later this weekend, and early next week.

‘Along with the rise in temperatures, there is also an increasing threat of heavy rain and thunderstorms on Sunday night and into Monday. This looks most likely across portions of Wales, northern England, Northern Ireland and southern and eastern Scotland, but the advice is to keep up to date with the latest forecast and any warnings by checking our website or app.’