Sweltering weather set to sweep across UK

Sweltering weather is set to sweep across the country early next week, bringing sticky conditions and high UV Levels.

Britain could experience its hottest day so far this year - with temperatures expected to reach the low thirties - as hot air from the continent warms up the country.

Temperatures reached 33.5C in July at Brize Norton, and the Met Office said the mercury could reach those highs again if conditions are right.

"The warmest day is looking to be Tuesday where we'll probably see temperatures in the low thirties around to the north of London, the Midlands and East Anglia," forecaster Emma Sharples explained.

She said that while temperatures were not expected to reach the mid-thirties, it would be "close-run thing" whether Tuesday would be the hottest day so far this year.

Monday will see highs of 28C in the south, with temperatures this weekend staying in the mid-twenties. Scotland could also experience temperatures in the high twenties, the Met Office said.

Sticky conditions will make it difficult to sleep, particularly in urban areas, the forecaster warned, and said that UV Levels are predicted to be high.

It comes as research by the Teenage Cancer Trust found that young people are careless when applying sunscreen and regularly burn in the sun.

The charity found that 16% of young people have been burnt more than 10 times in their life - putting them at a high risk of developing skin cancer.

Susie Rice, head of education and awareness programme for Teenage Cancer Trust, said it is "important" that young people know how to protect themselves as skin cancer is on the rise.

"It's so worrying to see that young people are getting bunt frequently, as we know that repeated burning can cause problems over time.

"We want young people to really think about those bits they normally miss when putting on their sunscreen this summer."

The research suggested that a third of 13- to 24-year-olds burn their necks because they forget to apply sunscreen, while the same number burn their backs because they cannot reach it.

But the hot weather is not set to last long as thunderstorms will creep in on Tuesday night into Wednesday.

Ms Sharples said: "By the time we get to Thursday we'll be back into much fresher conditions again, temperatures down to around average in the high teens and low twenties with a typical mix of summer weather which we're more used to in the UK."

The forecaster also dismissed suggestions that a "Spanish Plume" would bring hot weather to the country for the next fortnight.

"A Spanish Plume refers to how we break down the spell of warm sunny weather and the act of thunderstorms happening - so it's a title of an event to define a set of characteristics that set off thunderstorms.

"It's not the Spanish Plume which produces hot weather really, although they tend to come in tandem."

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