UK weather: Heatwave forecast as Met Office maps show 12 counties will hit 29C

The UK could be on the brink of its first official of 2025 as an unseasonal surge in pushes the mercury to a sizzling 29C across wide swathes of this week.

Forecasters say the hot spell, brought on by a high-pressure system drifting north from continental Europe, will cover the country in - marking one of the hottest late-April periods in UK history. At least 12 counties including , Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, and parts of Yorkshire, are expecting temperatures between 27C and 29C from Wednesday to Friday. Should the warmth continue for three consecutive days - meeting the - it could become the earliest recorded heatwave in over a decade.

Wednesday will see much of the country enjoying sunshine and warmth, with temperatures widely in the 20Cs and likely peaking at 28C, according to the UKV weather model (which is used by the Met Office). But it is Thursday that looks set to be the warmest day of the week, with forecasters predicting highs of 29C across parts of England, including the south-east and even some areas further north.

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The UK's highest April temperature on record was 29.4C, set at Camden Square in London on April 16, 1949. As for May, the highest recorded temperature remains 32.8C, also in Camden Square, on May 22, 1922. According to temperature records, which go back to 1860, if the UK reaches 30C this week, it will be the earliest point in the year in which we have reached 30C.

As temperatures peak, pet owners have been urged to think of their animals in the hot too. Dr. Elizabeth Mullineaux, President of the British Veterinary Association said: “Like us, animals also struggle when temperatures soar. Each year, vets see pets suffering from heat-related problems and illnesses, such as heatstroke, breathing problems, burnt paw pads and sunburn. Remember, be sure your animals have access to fresh drinking water, good ventilation and shade from direct sunlight at all times in the summer.”

From Friday, a subtle change is expected as temperatures begin to dip slightly. Highs of around 25C are likely, though parts of the south-east may hold onto the warmth a little longer. The end of the week may also bring some more unsettled weather, with the chance of showers and isolated thunderstorms, particularly in the south and south-west later on Thursday or overnight.

Chief Meteorologist Jason Kelly said on this week's weather: “Thursday looks set to be the warmest day of the week, with temperatures climbing notably above the seasonal average. Overnight temperatures will also be very high in places. It’s possible national and station records for daytime and overnight temperatures may be broken, but it’s unclear at this point whether heatwave criteria will be reached.

"If this happens, it is most likely in some of the lower category areas which require temperatures to reach 25C or above for three consecutive days. The far north will always see cooler conditions, with these more seasonal temperatures likely spreading erratically south later in the week.”