Britain will experience temperatures of 29 degrees Celsius as the heatwave from North Africa hits

The latest weather maps reveal when the UK is expected to enjoy its first 29C heat wave of the year. Despite a dreary and unseasonably cold start to summer, things could be about to heat up.

Netweather.tv forecasters suggest all hope is not lost, even though the longest day of the year is just five days away – signaling the gradual return of darker evenings. With peak temperatures barely above 25C, there was no sign of sustained hot weather hitting Britain. However, a North African plume could hit the country before the end of the month.

This heat wave is expected to arrive across Europe with a sting in the tail – on June 29 being the last day, a red light covers the country, indicating a rise in temperatures. Northern France will experience 31 degrees Celsius, losing at least two degrees as it crosses the Channel to Britain. The south coast of England is expected to record the hottest temperature, with parts of Sussex set to endure a scorching 29 degrees, the Express reports.

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However, other regions of the country will not be far behind. Counties including Kent, Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Greater London, Surrey and Berkshire will experience maximum temperatures of 28C.

Birmingham and other areas of the West Midlands will see highs of 27C, while Manchester and Liverpool are likely to see 26C. Temperatures will drop further north, with towns and cities near Newcastle experiencing 22C.

Cardiff in Wales is expected to experience a moderate 25C. Despite the positive early indicators in the weather maps, Netweather forecasters stress that this is not a guarantee.

Forecaster Ian Simpson said: “There is some chance that some of that heat from North Africa and southern Europe will move towards the British Isles towards the end of June, depending on whether ridges of high pressure in the Azores line up in so we’re pulling in warm air masses from the south and southeast, but that’s not a certainty.”

How long will this take? The jet streams are never too far away and there is likely to be a “pattern change” that will push the thermometers up slightly as the month goes on.

“Predominantly westerly to south-westerly winds and ridges of high pressure (will) move in from the Azores at times, interspersed with periods of more unsettled weather with low pressure systems coming in off the North Atlantic,” added Ian .

The Met Office’s long-term forecast does not suggest a heatwave, but does suggest temperatures will rise. Until June 29, it states: “Changeable conditions are likely during the last week of June, with the concentration of these conditions being in the north and west, with periods of more stable and drier conditions likely in the south and east. Nationally, temperatures are expected to be near or slightly above average.”

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