UK weather: Britain braces for 39C heat burst in just a few days as horror maps turn dark red

Temperatures may have cooled down this week - but the weather is set to get warmer again in a matter of days.

The latest weather maps from WXCharts suggest that parts of the country could see the mercury rise to almost 40C on July 14. According to the forecast, which uses Met Desk data, temperatures in the West Midlands and down into the South West of England could be the highest, rising up to 39C.

By 6pm that day, even parts of Yorkshire and the Humber could experience highs of 30C or over. The East Midlands, as well as eastern England, could also experience highs of 37C or 38C, the weather maps show.

READ MORE: Brits face FIVE DAY heatwave as weather maps reveal exact dates for 36C scorcher

On July 14, the South West and South East of England are also expected to see temperatures in the mid to high 30s, with areas around London expected to experience 35C, according to the weather maps. Meanwhile, Wales will experience temperatures of up to 38C in areas bordering England.

But Northern Ireland and Scotland will be cooler, as the mercury won't reach 30C but will hit highs of 27C. While July 14 is expected to be the next hottest day, these warm conditions are set to last for around a week from July 11 to July 18, according to the weather maps.

The Met Office's long-range forecast from Wednesday, July 9 to Friday, July 18 says: "A broad northwest/southeast split in the weather looks most likely through much of this period. Towards the northwest, Atlantic frontal systems will bring occasional rain and cloudier skies at times, along with breezier conditions, though there should be some drier, brighter interludes too.

"Further south and east, high pressure will likely dominate with a fair amount of dry and sunny weather to be had. With this, there is a signal for increasing heat and humidity and the potential for another period of hot weather around the second weekend of July, and possibly lasting into the following week. Whilst a lot of dry weather is likely in the south, thunderstorms are possible at times, though widespread rainfall looks unlikely."

The end of July will also see warm conditions hitting the country, with temperatures likely to be above average overall. The Met Office said we are likely to experience "a continued, and perhaps higher than normal, chance of occasional hot spells, especially further to the southeast."

Bur at the beginning of August, there is a possibility of more widely unsettled weather, forecasters said. It comes as provisional Met Office statistics revealed that England had its warmest June on record this year, while the UK experienced its second warmest since the series began in 1884. This follows a record-breaking spring, which was officially the warmest and sunniest spring on record for the UK.

Met Office Climate Scientist, Dr Amy Doherty, said: "While we've not conducted formal climate attribution studies into June 2025's two heatwaves, past studies have shown it is virtually certain that human influence has increased the occurrence and intensity of extreme heat events such as this. Numerous climate attribution studies have shown that human influence increased the chance that specific extreme heat events would occur, such as the summer of 2018 and July 2022.

"Our Met Office climate projections indicate that hot spells will become more frequent in our future climate, particularly over the southeast of the UK. Temperatures are projected to rise in all seasons, but the heat would be most intense in summer."

UK 5-day weather forecast This Evening and Tonight:

Cloudy and windy in the northwest with outbreaks of rain, though drier with a few clear spells across eastern Scotland, northeast England and the east of Northern Ireland. Cloud and increasingly patchy rain moving south across England and Wales. Mild.

Saturday:

Outbreaks of rain will affect western Scotland and southwest England. Rather cloudy elsewhere with patchy drizzle, though some warm bright spells across eastern Scotland and eastern England. Breezy, but humid.

Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:

Breezy with sunshine and showers on Sunday, and a fresher feel. Showers easing from the west on Monday. Patchy rain feeding across the north on Tuesday. Warm sunshine further south.