Heatwave: 'Exceptionally high temperatures' expected in Sidmouth this weekend

Temperature are set to rise over the next few days in Sidmouth as a heatwave develops across the south of England.

The Met Office has issued a warning to expect 'exceptionally high temperatures' which will continue into next week.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Dan Suri, said: "Although much of the UK can expect a spell of warm and sunny weather lasting into early next week, it's going to turn very hot for parts of England and Wales with temperatures widely reaching above 30 Celsius on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

"Friday is likely to be the hottest day with temperatures of 36 to 37 Celsius in parts of east and south-east England. It's possible temperatures could reach similar levels on Saturday, before falling slightly on Sunday.

Dan continued: "Along with hot weather by day, it will stay warm and humid overnight with temperatures remaining in the high teens and low 20s Celsius."

The current hottest August day on record is 38.5 Celsius, reached in Faversham on August 10, 2003. The current record maximum temperature for the UK is 38.7 Celsius, reached in Cambridge Botanic Garden on July 25, 2019.

Ishani Kar-Purkayastha, Consultant in Public Health at Public Health England, said: "Many of us welcome warmer weather, but some people may find it more difficult to cope. People recovering from COVID-19 at home, those who are self-isolating, older people and people with underlying health conditions are all more vulnerable during hot weather.

"This summer, many of us are spending more time at home due to COVID-19. A lot of homes can overheat, so it's important we continue to check on older people and those with underlying health conditions, particularly if they're living alone and may be socially isolated.

"If you need to provide direct care to someone at risk from hot weather, follow government guidance on how to do this safely. The most important advice is to ensure they stay hydrated, keep cool and know how to keep their homes cool."

Commenting on how long the hot weather is expected to last, Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Chris Bulmer, said: "The hot airmass will remain over much of England and Wales until early next week, so we'll continue to see maximum temperatures in the low to mid-30s Celsius as the heatwaves continues.

"It looks like the heatwave could break on Tuesday and Wednesday as the risk of thunderstorms increases for many areas, although at the moment it's a bit too early to say for certain, so our advice is to keep up to date with Met Office forecasts day-by-day."

The Forecast for Sidmouth

Today we can expect a high temperatures and increased humidity as well as plenty of sunshine. There will be light winds throughout the day and a few isolated showers are possible.

Tonight should be dry and clear, temperatures will fall to around 14C but it will remain humid.

Saturday will be another hot and humid day with plenty of sunshine. We can expect temperatures to rise to around 28C.

It will remain warm and sunny on Sunday and well into next week. As we move into next week the chance of thundery showers increases.