Temperatures across parts of the UK are set to reach a baking 30C Saturday but are expected to drop to 25C in the south and around 18C up north on Sunday
The heatwave is nearly over after parts of the UK were battered by thunder and lightning storms. The boiling weather comes as sweltering humidity and stunning lightning displays swept across Cornwall, Devon, Jersey and Guernsey.
The bolts also lit up the skies in north Wales, the Midlands, Manchester and northern Scotland with more expected on Saturday across the nation. More than 63,000 lightning strikes were recorded in 24 hours up until Friday morning.
Annie Shuttleworth, a Met Office meteorologist, said conditions will “finally cool down this weekend”. It comes after the record for the hottest June day was smashed for the third day running, with a temperature of 37.3C recorded in Santon Downham, in Suffolk Temperatures are set to reach a baking 30C on Saturday but are expected to drop to 25C in the south and around 18C up north on Sunday.
The Met Office added: “The far east and southeast of England will retain the warmth the longest, though there should be a climb-down in figures by Saturday, with peaks around 32°C likely.”
The Met office statement added: “Next week is likely to see a change to more of a westerly influence on the UK’s weather, with a return to more average temperatures for the time of year and a mixture of winds and rain, particularly for those in the northwest.”
The development comes after the nation melted with a Red Warning for Extreme Heat issued again yesterday (Fri).
It was the first time in history the red warnings were posted for three days in a row. Hundreds of schools and nurseries were forced to close or shut earlier than usual due to the immense heat. Meanwhile, a hosepipe ban was brought in for Kent amid surging demand.
Elsewhere, several hospitals declared critical incidents with University Hospital Southampton forced to cancel some planned operations and outpatient appointments.
And a London Ambulance Service chief urged the nation to drink responsibly while watching Saturday’s World Cup crunch clash between England and Panama. Craig Harman said footie fans should have “plenty of water” in between boozy beverages.
Harman added: “I’m saying to people I need you to drink water even when you’re not thirsty, staying out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day, and particularly not exercising outside and putting your body under additional heat and strain.”
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.