Temperatures have been soaring as Brits experience an intense heatwave.
The UK weather has been uncharacteristically warm, as temperatures surge above 30C.
To the glee of many people, and the sadness of some, the heatwave is showing no signs of slowing down.
Some parts of the country will see temperatures exceed 30C every day this week, especially in the south.
The Met Office also issued an amber heatwave warning which is in place until Friday.
The warning advised people to stay out of the “very hot” sun until the warning subsides.
“Temperatures are expected to remain widely above average for most”Met Office
What is causing the heatwave?
A heatwave most commonly occurs in the summer, when there is high pressure.
The sweltering weather is due to an accumulation of many things.
Currently a high-pressure weather system is looming over the UK, which is steering away storms that usually find their way to the UK.
High-pressure weather systems are slow-moving, and can stay for days or weeks.
One of the main reasons for the heatwave in the UK is the jet stream, or a core of strong winds which are five to seven miles above the Earth’s surface.
This usually blows west to east and moves weather around the world.
The wind speeds can reach 200mph, but we can’t feel this at ground level.
The jet stream is currently in the north of the UK, but it is not throng enough to push the high pressure away.
Dr Marie Ekstrōm said: “The weather that we are experiencing now is due to a very weak jet stream.
“Its strength and position has great influence on the weather we experience at the surface. What we are experiencing now is a very weak flow in combination with a high pressure system over central Europe.
“The high pressure system is blocking weather systems from the Atlantic, pushing them northward rather than allowing them to move eastwards towards Europe.”
Climate change, which has overseen the Earth’s temperature rising, also has a hand in the heatwave.
Professor Len Shaffrey, Professor of Climate Science at the University of Reading, said: “Global temperatures are increasing due to climate change. The Global rise in temperatures means the probability that an extreme heatwave will occur is also increasing.
“The current hot and dry spell in the UK is party due to a combination of North Atlantic Ocean temperatures, climate change and the weather.
“Should weather patterns continue as they are then we might expect this summer will turn out to be as hot and dry as the extreme summer of 1976.”
How long will the heatwave last?
According to the Met Office, the heatwave will last for a few more weeks into August.
Meanwhile, there could be some relief from the heat as a yellow thunderstorm warning has been put in place from Friday 2pm until 11.45pm.
The warning says: “Where flooding or lightning occurs, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services.
“Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures.
“There is a slight chance that power cuts could occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost.”
However, the long range weather forecast for the Met Office suggests the warm weather will continue throughout August.
The forecast for August 8 to August 22 says: “Temperatures are expected to remain widely above average for most, with further spells of very warm or hot conditions probable, and a likelihood of very hot conditions at times, especially in the south.”