Brits are braced for scorching temperatures of up to 39C next week on what could be the UK's hottest ever day.
The country is currently in the grip of its longest heatwave in four years with temperatures expected to climb further over the weekend and into next week.
The Met Office has extended an 'amber' extreme heat warning covering much of England and Wales from Sunday into Tuesday, saying there could be a danger to life or potential serious illness, with adverse health effects likely across the population.
It said "exceptionally high" temperatures are expected both by day and night, possibly bringing road delays alongside train and flight cancellations.
The mercury is expected to soar into the mid 30s through the weekend before peaking on Tuesday, July 19, and climbing to 39C in Southall, West London, according to BBC forecasters.
If this temperature is reached then it would beat the current all-time UK record of 38.7C, set in Cambridge in 2019, with the Met Office believing there is a 30% chance it could be surpassed.
Met Office forecaster Matthew Box said: "As we get into Sunday it looks like we could see temperatures rise into the high 20s and into the low 30s as well but potentially a few spots getting 34C or 35C by Sunday and probably the same again on Monday.
"We could see by Monday temperatures getting towards the mid or high 30s and there's about a 30% chance we could see the UK record broken, most likely on Monday at the moment."
The searing hot temperatures could lead to road closures, and delays and cancellations to rail and air travel.
Meanwhile, ambulance services in England are on the highest level of alert as difficulties with the hot weather combine with Covid absences among staff and ongoing delays handing patients over to A&E.
Mr Box added: "It's looking like things are going to become hot or very hot as we go through the weekend and into next week."
He explained the heatwave is a result of hot air flowing to the UK from the continent.
The forecaster said: "What happens as we get into the weekend, the high pressure becomes centred to the east of the UK and that allow a southerly flow of air to drag up the very warm air that's over France at the moment, and drag it northwards to the UK over the weekend, perhaps more so on Sunday and into Monday."
It comes after a Cobra meeting was held on Monday following the Met Office’s amber warning, reported The Telegraph.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) could declare a “level four emergency” if the heat means that “illness and death may occur among the fit and healthy”.
A UKHSA spokesman told the newspaper: "There's a possibility of a level four heatwave. If it gets above 40C, then it is likely to be a level four heatwave for the first time."
In an emergency like this it would be where there is a danger of disruption to transport, food supplies and could see everything from schools to nuclear power plants being closed.
After the boiling weather, however, thundery showers are set to follow.
No exact timings of when the storms will hit can be given as yet, but thundery showers are likely possible between July 16 to 25.
The Met Office predicts temperatures will creep above average again come the first week of August.
