Britain is preparing for a prolonged spell of intense summer heat, with temperatures expected to climb to 35C across large parts of England at the start of the week.
Forecasters say Monday and Tuesday are likely to be the hottest days, with sweltering conditions stretching from Lincolnshire and the Midlands through East Anglia and into the London area.
Temperatures above 30C are expected to spread widely across southern and central England, as well as parts of northern England and eastern Wales, raising the prospect of one of the hottest spells of the summer so far.
Monday is forecast to bring highs of 35C in a broad corridor running from the Midlands to the South East. The heat is then expected to intensify rapidly on Tuesday morning, with another peak of 35C forecast in London, the Home Counties and Cambridgeshire.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster, Steve Kocher, said: “It is likely that the May and Spring UK temperature records will be broken over the Bank Holiday weekend, with forecast temperatures surpassing the existing record of 32.8°C.
“As well as it being hot, there will be lots of dry and sunny weather for much of the UK.”
Away from immediate coastal areas, much of eastern, southern and central England is expected to remain above 30C for a second consecutive day.
The heatwave is then forecast to continue throughout the week, although temperatures are expected to ease slightly after midweek. Highs of 31C are predicted for Wednesday, followed by 30C on Thursday, 27C on Friday and 28C on Saturday.
The prolonged period of high temperatures is likely to place pressure on transport networks and public services, while health officials are expected to warn vulnerable people to take precautions during the hottest parts of the day.
Rail operators routinely impose speed restrictions during extreme heat because of concerns over tracks expanding in high temperatures, while water companies often urge households to limit usage during sustained dry spells.
The latest forecasts come after an unsettled start to summer, with meteorologists pointing to a build-up of high pressure over southern Britain drawing warmer air northwards from continental Europe.
If temperatures reach the predicted highs, parts of England could be hotter than several Mediterranean holiday destinations early this week.
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