London heatwave to last until July 14 with highs of 34C, BBC and Met Office forecast

London is set to endure another week of scorching temperatures as the current heatwave shows no signs of abating. BBC Weather forecasts six consecutive days with temperatures exceeding 30°C starting from around 2pm on July 6. The mercury will remain high until Tuesday, July 14, when it is expected to drop below 28°C. Thereafter, city dwellers can expect slightly cooler highs of about 27°C and some rain through to Sunday, July 19.

Record-breaking heat and urban impact

This prolonged heatwave follows a period of extreme weather since mid-June, which saw a record-breaking 36.4°C in London. The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, caused by dense building infrastructure, can make the city feel up to 10 degrees hotter than the actual temperature. This phenomenon has exacerbated the impact of the heatwave on Londoners, who are seeking shade and air conditioning to cope.

While BBC Weather predicts highs of 31-32°C in the coming days, the Met Office believes temperatures could reach a sweltering 33-34°C between Wednesday, July 8 and Friday, July 10. Meteorologists have also noted that the high temperatures have created a Category 2 marine heatwave, affecting wildlife and ecosystems.

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Marine heatwave intensifies

Sea-surface temperatures are about 1.5-4°C above normal in waters around much of the English and Welsh coastlines, the English Channel, and the central and southern North Sea. These waters will have limited opportunity to cool amid this week's heatwave, raising the possibility of an 'extreme' Category 4 marine heatwave, which is rarely seen in UK waters, according to the Met Office.

Dr Ségolène Berthou, air-sea interaction specialist at the Met Office, said: "Marine heatwaves around the UK have developed rapidly following the recent heat dome, and we are now seeing widespread strong to locally severe conditions. This is the third and most intense marine heatwave we have seen this year. While these warmer seas did not significantly increase peak temperatures on land, they reduced night-time cooling and helped sustain warmth, particularly in coastal areas. With further sunny and calm weather likely next week, there will be little opportunity for the ocean to release this excess heat. This means the surface marine heatwave could intensify further, potentially reaching extreme levels in the south. Such conditions would be highly unusual for UK waters."