London weather forecast: UK heatwave could last until October as forecasters warn of 34C heat in south-east tomorrow

James Morris6 August 2018

Britain is set to bask in the record-breaking heatwave for another three months with forecasters tipping the hot spell to last until October.

The scorching heatwave is set to continue thanks to a blast of hot air from the Iberian peninsula and high pressure over most of western Europe.

It comes as the UK faces temperatures above 30C in London and elsewhere this week, potentially peaking at 34C in Essex or Norfolk.

It follows a balmy weekend, with thousands flocking to beaches along the south coast and partying at Brighton Pride.

UK Heatwave - In pictures

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The hottest temperature on Sunday was 30.2C recorded in Northolt, west London.

The mercury will need to climb significantly if it is to come close to England's current August record - 38.5C in Faversham, Kent, in 2003.

Revellers enjoy the sunshine at Bestival
PA

However, maximum temperatures are likely to dip to around the mid-20C mark on Wednesday.

Forecaster Dean Hall said there will be "quite a marked change to the feel of things" from the middle of the week as conditions turn "fresher and more changeable".

People enjoy the sunshine at London Fields in Hackney on Saturday
John Stillwell/PA

It is likely to stay cooler throughout next weekend, he said, with "no real sign of any return of the heat that we have been seeing over the recent days".

It comes amid a sweltering European heatwave, with holidaymakers in Portugal and Spain feeling the brunt of the sun.

The mercury is being driven higher by a hot air mass moving north from Africa, bringing dust from the Sahara Desert.

British holidaymakers abroad are being warned to avoid spending time in the sun during the hottest part of the day and to keep hydrated.

Last week local records were smashed in eight areas of Portugal, while Lisbon broke a 37-year-old record with the thermometers reaching 44C on Sunday.

Red health alerts for extreme heat have been issued for more than half the country, with thermometers passing 46C over the weekend.

A wildfire in Portugal's Algarve region on Sunday
Javier Fergo/AP

The hot, dry conditions led to several Portuguese wildfires.

In Spain, heat warnings were issued for 41 of the country's 50 provinces.

The stifling conditions played a part in the deaths of two men, one in Barcelona and the other in the southern Spanish region of Murcia, according to Spanish authorities.

Additional reporting by Press Association

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