UK braces for 'unprecedented' fifth heatwave with parts of UK set to sizzle amid 36C temperatures

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Weather forecasters are predicting a north-south split ahead of the 36 degree heatwave, with half of the UK set to experience high temperatures through the weekend and into next week.

Scotland will continue to experience spells of heavy rain amid torrential downpours, while England and Wales will remain largely dry, sunny and increasingly warm.

It comes as heat alerts are predicting highs of 36C across areas of the south, with yellow heat health alerts in place from 9am on Saturday to 9pm on Tuesday.

The Met Office said temperatures will climb through the weekend as heatwave conditions return, with a high of 36C expected in parts of East Anglia and south-east England by Thursday.

The meteorological body said: "Temperatures are currently expected to peak in the mid 30s Celsius for some on Wednesday and Thursday."

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The stark contrast comes as the Scottish Highlands and outer islands "have seen close to half of August's average rainfall in the last 48 hours" according to the Met Office.

Around 100mm of rain fell in some areas between Thursday and Saturday.

Meanwhile, outbreaks of rain will affect parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

There have been two record-breaking heatwaves, in May and June, that led to more than 2,800 excess deaths, and two more heatwaves in July that have fuelled drought and wildfires.

The highest temperature of the year was 38C recorded at Lingwood in Norfolk on June 28.

There have been 33 days so far this year when temperatures have exceeded 30C somewhere in the UK.

The record of 34 days – set in 1995 – is likely to be broken next week.

Forecasters said the weekend will see a north-south split in the weather with Scotland and Northern Ireland likely to see spells of heavy rain, while England and Wales will remain largely dry, sunny and increasingly warm.

Temperatures could reach 30C on Saturday, before climbing into the low 30s in southern and south-east England on Sunday.

Highs of up to 30C are possible across parts of England and Wales on Tuesday, increasing to 32C to 34C on Wednesday, with the highest temperatures currently expected on Thursday.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow heat health alerts for the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber and London.

Meanwhile, the National Trust is asking people to sign a petition calling on the Government to make tackling climate change a national mission.

It comes after several wildfires have broken out in the UK over recent weeks, with large blazes at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk, Headon Warren on the Isle of Wight, Llanwonno in the Rhondda Valleys, South Wales, and the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland.

Fires are likely to become exceptionally severe on Sunday for almost all of the east and south-east of England, according to the Fire Severity Index. “Exceptional” severity is its highest ranking.

The Met Office data includes rainfall, temperature and humidity and agencies use the index to assess the severity of fire if it starts. It does not cover the chances of wildfires occurring.

Reservoir storage in England has dropped to 69%, down from 72% a week ago and nearly 12 percentage points below the long-term average for the time of year, the Environment Agency said on Friday.

Storage stood at 85% at the end of June, which was the average for that point in the year, but has fallen steadily in recent weeks.

Five reservoirs are now classed as having “exceptionally low” levels: Blagdon in Somerset (54% full); Clywedog in Powys, which provides water for central and north-west England (62%); the Dove group of reservoirs in Derbyshire (74%); Hanningfield in Essex (60%); and Wimbleball in Somerset (50%).

Last month was the driest July for England and Wales since records began in 1836, according to provisional figures released by the Met Office.

Nineteen counties across England recorded effectively no rainfall – 1mm or less – across the whole of the month, Met Office figures show.