UK weather: Health warning issued as mini-heatwave expected with temperatures set to hit nearly 30C

Brits could finally be feeling the summer heat this weekend – and health alert has been issued for large swathes of the country.

Many have wondered whether we would ever be graced with warm weather this year, with temperatures being chilly and drizzly grey skies being seen consistently through to mid-July.

Some parts of the country had weather warnings for rain at the start of this week , but this is all set to change quickly with temperatures soaring by Friday.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued several heat health alerts for the South East from early Thursday morning.

According to the Met Office, London is expected to bask in temperatures up to 29C on Friday while it will become “very warm” in the south-east of England.

The UKHSA has placed a yellow heat health alert to coincide with the rising temperatures for London, East Midlands, East of England and the South East.

For all areas affected, the warning will come into place at 5am on Thursday morning and remain until Saturday at 11pm.

The government agency said the warm weather could have “minor impacts” across the health and social care sector, including an increase of mortality amongst vulnerable individuals.

It warned that it could see an increased use of healthcare services.

Temperatures are predicted to rise from Wednesday, with temperatures rising to 24C in the capital come the evening. The increase in temperatures is an indicator of a warmer end to the working week, said the Met Office.

“Temperatures [will be] near normal but becoming very warm in the South East,” said a spokesperson.

On Thursday, at 4pm, the mercury is forecast to hit 26C in London, followed by 23C in Cardiff and 22C in Manchester. It will be slightly cooler in other areas, such as Plymouth and Glasgow where it will be 18C.

A similar trend will continue into Friday, with the warmest weather again in the capital, where temperatures could peak at 29C at 4pm.

On Thursday, Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said: “As we go into the afternoon, some decent bright, sunny spells and some warmer air across us as well and so temperatures likely to be a bit higher, perhaps, than on Wednesday with 26, maybe even a little bit higher than that, so feeling particularly warm.”

And on Friday, he said parts of the country in the sunshine will “feel pretty warm”.

But on the weekend, Mr Burkill said there was “uncertainty as to the detail” of the weather, adding that low pressure was likely to lead to cool conditions with some wind and rain.

Despite it being July, it has been a cool and rather wet few days with some parts of the country having had weather warnings for rain at the start of this week.

On Tuesday, a yellow weather warning from the Met Office was still in place for rain in the North East and the east of Scotland - including Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee - until 8pm.

Spray and flooding means difficult driving conditions and potentially road closures, the organisation warned, adding that there was a small chance some homes and businesses could be flooded.

Elsewhere, Tuesday was expected to be a mainly dry for many, but with temperatures not rising above 21C.

The same picture will continue into Wednesday but with most places seeing a “fine and dry” day with “decent amounts of sunshine”, said the Met Office.