Heatwave peak set to bring 34C to parts of UK

Parts of the UK could see one of the hottest June days ever as a heatwave, now in its fourth day, peaks on Monday.

Temperatures of 34C are possible around the Greater London and Bedfordshire areas with a small chance of reaching 35C.

If the temperature does go above 34C as expected, it would be in the top three hottest June days on record. It is not expected to challenge the hottest day though of 35.6C set in 1976.

Glastonbury Festival advised people to leave the site before early Monday morning to avoid the building heat while Wimbledon will see its hottest opening day on record.

An amber alert, in place since Friday, persists for five regions meaning weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service.

There is also a "severe" risk of wildfires according to the London Fire Brigade.

The East Midlands, South East, South West, London and the East of England all fall under the amber heat-health alert and are likely to be subject to travel delays.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire and Humber and the West Midlands are under a less serious yellow alert.

The high temperatures mean all of these areas are likely to experience a rise in deaths particularly among the vulnerable, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

However, it won't be hot everywhere. Scotland and Northern Ireland have escaped the heatwave conditions and once again it'll be fresher there - 17 to 22C - with some rain moving in gradually through Monday.

Night-time lows are only predicted to fall to 20C in some areas heading into Tuesday.

An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK.

This is the second heatwave of the year.

London Fire Brigade assistant Thomas Goodall explained that this is why the risk of wildfires is "severe" as well as due to low rainfall in recent months.

Guidance from the UKHSA recommends keeping out of the sun in the hottest part of the day between 11:00 and 15:00, wearing hats, sunglasses and suncream.