UK bakes on hottest day of the year amid grueling London heatwave

By Eric Leister, Meteorologist

July 19,2016; 10:02AM,EDT

 

 

The most intense heat of the year so far will stretch across most of the United Kingdom on Tuesday.
This heat has arrived just in time for the beginning of summer break for schools across England.
Temperatures are expected to soar as high as 33 C (91 F) in the warmest parts London and South East London.

Intense heat and high humidity will also spread across Wales and the remainder of England. Some of the warmest places in Northern Ireland and southern Scotland will also see the highest temperatures of the year so far.
Temperatures across Wales will reach 26-29 C (78-84 F) outside of the mountains on Tuesday. Similar temperatures are expected across northern England while parts of the Midlands could see temperatures rise as high as 31 C (88 F).
A cold front will cross the U.K. Tuesday night into Wednesday, cutting back the heat in most locations. The exception will be London and the South East where temperatures will remain unseasonably high. High temperatures will be 28-30 C (82-86 F).
This unseasonable warmth and high humidity will continue throughout much of the U.K. on Tuesday night.
"The combination of warmth and humidity will make for uncomfortable evening conditions throughout the United Kingdom on Tuesday night," AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys said.
"The most sultry conditions will be around London where low temperatures will only fall to near 21 C (70 F)," Roys said.
Temperatures will be 5-6 degrees Celsius (9-11 degrees Fahrenheit) lower throughout the U.K. on Wednesday.
This front will also create showers and thunderstorms, some of which could be severe.
These storms will develop across northern Ireland on Tuesday afternoon with drenching rainfall and locally damaging winds. A few isolated storms will target northern Wales, northwest England and Scotland during the late-afternoon and evening hours.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms will overspread Wales late Tuesday night and continue into Wednesday morning.
Rain and thunderstorms will then drench northern England and Scotland throughout the day on Wednesday.
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Rainfall of up to 25 mm (1 inch) can fall in an hour or less with some areas receiving 50 mm (2 inches) within a few hours resulting in flash flooding.
The strongest storms can also produce locally damaging winds and hail.
A few isolated storms are possible around London and in the South East; however, most of the area will remain dry and warm.
Temperatures more typical of the second half of July are expected throughout the United Kingdom late this week.